Wilson Family Seafood: 8 MCU Appearances in Louisiana
Today was the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, titled “One World, One People,” and in it, the episode drove home that to answer the question, “Who will wield the shield?,” everyone in Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) life needed to weigh in, including his home state: Louisiana and his local community at Wilson Family Seafood.
Louisiana played a significant role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and in the making of the new Captain America. However, this isn’t the first time the state has played an essential role in the Marvel Multiverse, so here’s some of the best Pelican State references in Marvel!
1. Sam Wilson’s Louisiana Roots
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sam Wilson’s origin story is different from the comics. Relevantly, instead of hailing from Harlem, New York, Wilson’s hometown is Delacroix, Louisiana. His family runs a fishing business, Wilson Family Seafood.
Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios’ THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER. Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios
2. Krewe of Mackie
Like Sam Wilson, Mackie is a Louisiana native. However, the actor grew up in Gentilly, Louisiana, which is several hours inland from Delacroix. Not only has Mackie starred as Wilson in the MCU, he’s appeared on Broadway and in films ranging from 8 Mile (2002) to the The Hurt Locker (2008).
Photo: EW
In 2016, Mackie reigned as Bacchus XLVIII for the Krewe of Bacchus at Mardi Gras. He was the superkrewe’s first Black monarch, according to The New Orleans Advocate, something that meant a lot to him.
Photo: Krewe of Bacchus
“It shows a lot of progression,” Mackie said. “I always used to marvel at the institution, and also the history, of Mardi Gras. All of the krewes. To be a part of that is pretty remarkable. To have the opportunity to go from the street level looking up at the people and marveling at the kings to becoming one of them is major in my book.”
3. Mackie Wilson Family Seafood
We cooked along with Chef Justin Warner throughout WandaVision, however, with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Marvel hasn’t provided any recipes for us to enjoy, so we’ve been keeping our falcon eyes peeled for the best food in the series. Luckily, since Captain America’s from Louisiana now, there’s plenty of opportunities to keep our mouths watering throughout the series.
Sarah Wilson (Adepero Oduye), Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) in Marvel Studios’ THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER. Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios
Since the Wilson family owns a seafood joint and fishing boat, there’s been more than one scene evoking the culture of the state. More than once the cast is eating Creole cuisine, creating a sense of community fostered through food. And in episode five, we see that Sarah regularly sends lunches to two of her sons’ classmates, so Sam clearly isn’t the only superhero in the family!
Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Sarah Wilson (Adepero Oduye) in Marvel Studios’ THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
The connection to Louisiana cuisine is something Makie wanted to explore with his character. He even said in a press conference with CBR that:
It’s always a surprise when the minds get together and the information trickles down to you. When I first read the script, I was really happy and acknowledged the fact [that Sam is] from Louisiana, specifically, because that’s the best state in the union and New Orleans is the best city in the world. I had one request that if he was from Louisiana that I had to eat crawfish on camera. I don’t know who said no but somebody said no!
4. Strange Academy @ NOLA
In Strange Academy: First Class by Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos, Edgar Delgado, and Clayton Cowles, Doctor Strange opens a New Orleans school for magical teens. The series introduces readers to all-new mystical youngsters in the Marvel multiverse, and they are taught by some old school mystical favorites like Agatha Harkness and Doctor Voodoo.
Strange Academy #2 by Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos, Edgar Delgado, and Clayton Cowles. Photo: Marvel Comics
Although the Academy is fictional, it’s concept is based on real NOLA locations. According to the Associated Press, Young and Marvel visited the French Quarter Voodoo Museum and a 280-year-old candle-lit bar on Bourbon Street to inform the artwork and story line for the comic.
5. On Location: Captain Marvel
The first female lead superhero project from Marvel Studios, Captain Marvel (2019), was filmed in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
After a state law change in 2015, numerous production companies decided to move to locales like Atlanta, Georgia, hurting the economy. However, Marvel made a different decision and filmed several scenes in Louisiana for its 2019 film.
Photo: Vox
Marvel’s decision to film Captain Marvel in Louisiana was noteworthy for the state’s local production industry because it was one of the few big-budget films to set up shop in NOLA in recent years.
6. Maria Rambeau
Before Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) was Captain Marvel, she was an accomplished Air Force pilot, and one of her closest friends is Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), a single mother raising her young daughter in Louisiana.
Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) in Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019). Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios
Notably, Maria’s also an accomplished Air Force pilot with the call sign “Photon,” which may or may not become important in Captain Marvel 2.
7. Monica Rambeau
The daughter of Carol Danvers’ friend, Maria, is Monica Rambeau, played by Akira Akbar in Captain Marvel and Teyonah Parris in WandaVision and the upcoming Captain Marvel 2, was born and raised in Louisiana.
Photo: Marvel
Monica Rambeau is also born in New Orleans, according to Marvel Comics lore, and she actually becomes a more powerful hero than Captain Marvel for a time in the comic story line.
Photo: SyFy Wire
According to the comics, after Monica’s exposed to “extra-dimensional energy” while working as a lieutenant for the New Orleans Harbor Patrol, she can convert her body to energy and intially takes up the name of “Photon.”
8. Cloak & Dagger
The Freeform show Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger is about superpowered teenagers Tandy Bowen (Olivia Holt) and Tyrone Johnson (Aubrey Joseph) who are mysteriously linked to each other. The show’s set in Louisiana, unlike the comic book characters’ homebase, with the actors and crew taking inspiration from Louisiana’s culture.
Photo: Freeform/Marvel
In an interview with Catalina Combs at Black Girl Nerds, Miles Mussendren, who played Tyrone’s father and Andrea Roth, who played Tandy’s mother, spoke about how the state’s culture impacts their views on the father-son and mother-daughter relationship.
Wilson Family Seafood and the other seven references are only scratching the surface of the Pelican State’s connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Can you think of any more? Let us know below!
