Marvel

3:55 PM PT -- Anthony Mackie posted on his Instagram Story Tuesday afternoon in response to online objections to his Captain America comments, writing ... "Let me be clear about this, I'm a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like CAP is the honor of a lifetime. I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country. CAP has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to."

Anthony Mackie's got a brave take on his "Captain America: Brave New World" role -- and let’s just say, the Internet is NOT pledging allegiance to it.

Check out this clip from a promo event in Rome -- according to Anthony, the star-spangled hero isn’t really about repping the country, despite the moniker. Instead, he says Cap stands for a lot of different things, but not "America," specifically … and he doesn't think it should -- and yeah, that’s ruffling some feathers.

Mackie’s making it about morals over patriotism -- signifying Captain America's a man who keeps his word, has dignity, integrity, and a few other traits that go beyond just red, white, and blue.

Ryan Reynolds made a surprise appearance at Radio City Music Hall on Friday night to support Hugh Jackman ... while the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has escalated severely.

RR honored his Marvel costar and best mate at the opening night of Hugh's one-man show "From New York, With Love" ... offering a combination of ball-breaking and deep admiration for his fellow actor.

The few minutes were sweet and moving ... but odds are the war between RR's wife and Baldoni was on audience members' minds -- as that got even uglier this week ... and it looks to get worse.

It's worth noting Ryan has only made a few public appearances since the all-out war broke out ... at events without press ... who'd pepper him to address the situation ... much like this one.

Adam Scott tells us he's down to film more Marvel movies ... despite last year's massive flop.

We got the "Severance" star in New York City yesterday and our photog asked him about a potential return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Adam says he's open to pretty much anything these days ... so he's not ready to give up on superhero flicks, after appearing in the dud that was "Madame Web."

Spider-Man has been spotted in England, but he's no superhero to one UK resident.

In fact, the famous comic book character has turned into a mysterious stalker donning a Spider-Man mask and leaving packages on someone's doorstep in the town of Hailsham in East Sussex, around 68 miles south of London.

What's in the packages is as mystifying as the person who leaves them ... the cops haven't revealed the contents.

Simu Liu's 2024 is ending on a not-so-Marvel-ous note ... 'cause his house was broken into last week -- though we're told there may be a silver lining for the actor.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Simu's Los Angeles-area home was broken into Friday when someone smashed a glass door around 11 PM.

Security was alerted to the break-in at Liu's home and called police ... who searched the house for any suspects, but no one was inside.

British actor Jack Veal, known for his work in Disney+'s "Loki," is asking for help ... sharing he's currently living on the streets after allegedly experiencing abuse at home.

The 17-year-old star, who is also known for his work in "The End of the F***ing World" and "Tin Star," opened up about his situation in a troubling TikTok video posted Monday ... in which he confirmed his current state of homelessness.

Jack explained he was sharing his struggles for the first time, as he decided he was ready "to reveal the truth."

"Deadpool & Wolverine" had just one joke that went too far for Disney, so it was left on the cutting room floor ... and the dick joke is now out of the bag!

Here's the deal -- prior to the massive blockbuster's release, Ryan Reynolds said there was just one joke the Mouse House asked to be removed ... but he didn't want to say what it was at the time.

Thanks to Disney submitting the script for awards contention ... fans now know what the joke was ... "F***! What we can’t even afford one more X-Man? Disney is so cheap. I can barely breathe with all this Mickey Mouse cock in my throat.”

Denzel Washington's got one legendary acting résumé -- and it looks like he's gearing up to cap off his career with a series of epic roles, including an iconic Marvel flick.

The Oscar winner shared he’s not sure how many more roles he’ll take on, especially as he’s being super selective as he approaches 70 -- but dished that director Ryan Coogler's writing him a part in the third 'Black Panther' movie.

Denzel dropped the news on Australia’s "Today" ... casually listing off a few roles he's planning to play before he officially throws in the towel -- "Othello" ... an untitled Netflix film about the historical Carthaginian general Hannibal, directed by Antoine Fuqua ... "King Lear" ... and a Steve McQueen film. It's unclear in what order these 4 films will be produced -- but the real mic-drop moment is his 'Black Panther' tease tucked right in there.

Scarlett Johansson was on a mission, gathering her 'Avengers' squad for an urgent pow-wow -- and it wasn't about saving the world this time, but to endorse Kamala Harris.

The superhero squad was back in action, with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, Danai Gurira, and Paul Bettany joining ScarJo to rally voters against Trump, all just days before the big election showdown.

The superhero squad hyped the video, dubbing it the "Election Endgame" and going ga-ga over their newly formed tagline, "Down For Democracy."

Nicolas Cage's "Spider-Man Noir" is gonna look tall, dark and handsome on the set of his new TV show ... but, fans will have to wait a little longer to see Nic in the costume -- 'cause there are only pics of his stunt double so far.

Photos and video from the set of 'Noir' have leaked ... with the alternate version of Spider-Man standing atop an old jalopy, ready to beat down on some bad guys.

Check out the pics ... the lovable black-and-white antihero from the 'Spiderverse' films is clad in his traditional outfit -- looking like a mish-mashed Spider-Man/Batman hybrid. He's got a ski mask, goggles, combat boots, trench coat and trademark fedora on -- less spandex and more steampunk, we gotta say.

Who knew Chris Hemsworth's looks over the years could "transform" from hot to HOTTER?!

Here is a 28-year-old version of the Australian hunk at the "Thor" Premiere in Hollywood back in 2011 (left). This was soon after he played the alpha male jock, Curt Vaughan, in "The Cabin in the Woods" propelling him to take on "Thor".

And, 13 years later Chris -- still dashingly handsome and chiseled -- showed a shorter 'cut at the "Transformers One" European Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square earlier this week (right).

His looks are definitely in his (Optimus) Prime!

But the question is ...

It seems Oliver Stone is not a huge fan of his film "Natural Born Killers" ... and he blames one of the film's stars for "ruining" the iconic '90s flick ... none other than Robert Downey Jr.!

You know the movie ... 'NBK' was condemned in the media when it dropped in 1994 for its brutal depiction of violence ... and it even inspired some real-life copycat crimes. Still, the highly controversial film was praised by most critics.

But now, it seems Oliver is among those who also took some issue with the flick starring Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis. ... and he holds the "Iron Man" actor responsible for his disdain.

A "Deadpool" actor cracked a risky joke during a Disney amusement park skit .. and with all the recent wrongful death lawsuit drama, you can bet the folks at The Walt Disney Company aren't too happy about it.

Check out this fan-captured clip from Disney California Adventure Park -- Just before a battle scene, the unidentified actor jokes about his late arrival ... saying, "Cinderpool was late because he had to read every single page in the terms and conditions when he signed up for Disney+."

The Wolverine actor chimes in with, "I don't get it" -- Deadpool fires back, "They do." And sure enough, the whole audience gets it, bursting out laughing.

Ryan Reynolds is dishing on why Rob McElhenney doesn't appear in the new 'Deadpool' flick ... saying they couldn't make his scene work -- which wasn't Rob's fault at all.

The movie star posted about his close friend and fellow Wrexham A.F.C. co-owner Friday on Threads ... acknowledging his buddy did film a scene for the flick -- but, they couldn't figure out how to fit it in the final cut.

The way RR explains it, the sequence itself didn't work ... and, the only reason it didn't immeditaly end up on the cutting room floor was because of Rob's performance.

Brian Cox ain't holding back on superhero flicks ... saying guys like Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds are too talented for 'em -- but, he can't knock them for taking the cash.

The actor spoke at a panel for the Edinburgh International Film Festival in Scotland Saturday ... and, he took a similar line to many Hollywood legends -- saying cinema's gone downhill in recent years, and Marvel's at least partly to blame.

The way Cox puts it, the grandiose nature of the movies has led to a loss of plot ... and, actors are treating it more like one big party than a real challenge.

Tim Blake Nelson's taking film legend Martin Scorsese to task ... saying he respects the famed director -- but, that doesn't mean he thinks he's right about Marvel.

The actor -- who played a small role in the 2008's "The Incredible Hulk" -- spoke with Variety about the seminal cinematic universe Scorsese just can't stand ... saying he believes it's cinema.

Nelson says he believes Marvel movies meet the threshold because they transport the viewers back to their youth ... allowing the audience to lose themselves in the flick.