Sam Wilson, the Marvel character best known as Captain America's long-time partner The Falcon, will replace Steve Rogers in the fall series of comic books, Marvel's chief creative officer Joe Quesada revealed on The Colbert Report Wednesday night. Movie fans will recognise The Falcon, as played by Anthony Mackie, in the huge grossing movies. 

Anthony MackieAnthony Mackie plays The Falcon in the Captain America movies [Getty/Charley Gallay]

"Well if there is one bird associated with America, it is the falcon," Colbert remarked.

Wilson will officially become Captain America in "All-New Captain America #1" by Rick Remender and Stuart Immonen. Addressing Colbert's observation that Wilson is black, Quesada said: "I don't see colors", prompting Colbert to ask, "If you don't see colors, how do you do comic books?"

Wilson will be the seventh character to use the Captain America name in Marvel continuity.

"I've been having a lot of fun writing Sam," Remender said in a Marvel.com interview. "It's a completely different attitude. The fact that he's not a soldier shifts things up a bit. Sam's not going to be Steve. Steve can be very rigid. That can be kind of joyless at times, whereas Sam is absolutely not that."

Rogers, or Captain America, recently had the Super Soldier Serum drained from his system as part of an attack by the Iron Nail. His body subsequently began to resemble its biological age - which isn't good. 

The news has led to some speculation that Mackie could take over from Chris Evans in future movies, given the actor's new penchant for directing. 

Sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier grossed over $700 million worldwide following its release in April. 

Watch the Captain America: Winter Soldier trailer: