Anthony Mackie on an African American Directing 'Black Panther': "They Didn't Get A Horse To Direct 'Seabiscuit'"

His week of interview fails continues.

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Complex Original

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So far Anthony Mackie's promo run for his upcoming film Our Brand Is Crisis has been a disaster. Last time he made some news the actor caught heat for sorta, kinda endorsing Donald Trump, something he tried to fix by claiming it was a bad joke that was taken out of context. This time he's making headlines for something even more absurd. While sitting down with Jen Yamato for The Daily Beast, Mackie spoke on his new movie with Sandra Bullock, America's current political landscape, and then got himself into some trouble when talking about the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

When speaking on whether or not Black Panther—the sixth film starring a black superhero as the lead (see: Blankman, Meteor Man, Hancock, Blade, and Spawn)—should have a black director, Mackie goes off the rails and says:

I don’t think it’s important at all. As a director your job is to tell a story. You know, they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit! The thing is I don’t think the race of the director has to do with their ability to tell a story. I think it’s all about the director’s ability to be able to relate to that story and do it justice. I think men can direct women, and two of my greatest work experiences were with female directors. So I think it all depends. May the best man—or woman—win.

Mackie ruined the great points he made in that statement with another bad joke. Dude is his publicist's worst nightmare right now. Did they get a horse to direct Seabiscuit? He should take that show on the road. Anyway, let's get either F. Gary Gray or John Singleton to direct Black Panther since Ava DuVernay passed on it.

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