Patrick Stewart Made Anthony Mackie ‘Freak Out’ on Avengers: Doomsday Set

Published Nov 11, 2026, 10:40 AM EST Sam covers TV, movies, games and books at Polygon, making recommendations about what to watch and play while interviewing actors, writers, and designers about their work. She has spent 15 years working as a journalist and critic, with bylines across numerous publications including IGN, GamesRadar+, The A.V. Club, The Verge, and Windows Central. 'Patrick was so great' Image: Marvel Studios Sign in to your Polygon.com account Patrick Stewart died on Oct. 28, meaning that his performance as Professor Charles Xavier in Avengers: Doomsday will be the last of his long career. Stewart first played the telepathic mutant in Bryan Singer’s X-Men in 2000, leading the superhero team in the fight against Ian McKellen’s Magneto. The two actors had met decades before at the Royal Shakespeare Company, but they became close friends after working together on the X-Men films. The actors reunited for Avengers: Doomsday, and Anthony Mackie said he and his The Falcon and the Winter Soldier co-star Sebastian Stan were so excited about it that they embarrassed themselves. “The day before [Stewart] passed, I was talking to Sebastian for some reason – I talk to Sebastian Stan a lot – and we were laughing about when we were on set,” Mackie told Polygon during a video interview. “Sir Patrick and Sir Ian come on set, and they hug, and they just stand there and talk in full costume. We start to freak out, like, 'Oh shit! Yo, this is amazing, right?' They look at us. They give us this quizzical look like, ‘What's wrong with you two?’ and they walk off.” Despite the awkward first impression, Mackie said Stewart was great to work with. “He was so kind, and he was just so easy to be around,” Mackie said. “He was very personable. At that level, at that stage in his career, I just didn't know what to expect. I was very happy and very honored that we had the opportunity to work with him.” Ian McKellen didn’t know who Anthony Mackie was Image: Marvel Studios Mackie has been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2014, playing Sam Wilson as partner to Chris Evans’ Captain America. Wilson then took on the mantle himself after Avengers: Endgame, officially donning the Captain America suit in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. McKellen played one of Marvel’s most iconic villains, but Mackie discovered on set that he doesn’t keep up with the franchise. “I go to Ian McKellen, he goes, ‘Hello, son.’ I’m like, ‘Ian McKellen, sir. You’re amazing. It’s amazing to work with you,’” Mackie told IMBb. “He goes, ‘So what are you doing in the film?’ and I’m like, ‘I’m Captain America.’ And he goes, ‘Wonderful... and you deserve that.’” Avengers: Doomsday comes to movie theaters on Dec. 18.