Just two days after announcing the sequel’s title at this year’s Comic-Con, Captain America: The Winter Soldier may have found one of its leading men. The Hollywood Reporter says that Anthony Mackie is in talks to play The Falcon in the April 4, 2014 release.

Created in 1969 by Stan Lee and Gene Colan, Sam Wilson made his first appearance in Captain America #117 and was Marvel’s first African-American superhero, continuing on as the book’s regular co-star for much of the 1970’s. Prior to a later retcon, Wilson was a Harlem social worker who shares an empathic link with birds, including his own falcon, Redwing. After becoming a costumed hero, Wilson made use of a flight harness to take flight alongside Cap.

Details are few on the plot of the Marvel Studio sequel but, based on the title, it’s pretty much a certainty that the film will follow Ed Brubaker’s Winter Soldier storyline, revealing the true fate of Sebastian Stan’s James “Bucky” Barnes after the events of Captain America: The First Avenger.

Mackie appeared earlier this year in Man on a Ledge and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier will be directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo with Stephen McFeely providing the screenplay.

(Photo Credit: Andres Otero/ WENN.com)