Coming out this week is 'The Hurt Locker,' an extraordinary film about an elite Army bomb squad unit that must come together in Iraq, a city where everyone is a potential enemy and where every object could be a deadly bomb. The movie is directed by Kathryn Bigelow and stars Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner and Brian Geraghty.

For Mackie, who plays bomb expert Sgt J.T. Sanborn, shooting overseas was a new experience, as was getting a new perspective on the war and the soldiers in it.

The New Orleans native also has a slew of upcoming projects, including a film with Kerry Washington and a run in New York City's Shakespeare in the Park. He may also play Olympian Jesse Owens.

Black Voices caught up with Mackie to talk about his role in the film, shooting in the Middle East and his upcoming projects.

What attracted you to 'Locker' ?

Anthony Mackie: It was the script. When I read the script, the one thing I felt about it was that it wasn't about the war. It was the stories on the lives of these three guys and their surroundings.

How much research did you do?

AM: I was down in North Carolina shooting 'Bolden' right before we started, so I wasn't able to go to any military camp or anything, so most of my research was done online. Because I was near Fort Bragg, I met a few guys, but I didn't do anything extensive.

Once you started shooting, were there any bomb experts on the set to give you some guidance?

AM: Because we were shooting in the Middle East, we ran into a little bit of everything. One night we were having drinks in Aqaba, which is a big city, and this guy came up to us and was like, "Either you are in the military or you are bored man." It turns out he was a former military soldier, and there were a few on set who helped us with the bomb suit and gave some pointers on weapons training and stuff like that.

What did you learn from director Kathryn Bigelow?

AM: That she is a great director. The biggest lesson I learned, I think, was patience. This was such a big movie done with a low budget. A lot of the stuff had to be done on the fly, and sometimes that could be great and sometimes that could be very stressful for an actor. You just have to roll with the punches.

How was working with Jeremy Renner?

AM: It was great. Jeremy was a lot of fun. There are a lot of leading men that do the work just to get into parties and get free stuff, but Jeremy is an old-school leading man. He really knows how to command the set and really knows how to make everybody work to their highest ability. It was fun because I couldn't come on the set unprepared knowing how prepared he was.

Was there anything you guys did to establish chemistry that would appear genuine on film?

AM: Nothing in the least. A lot of the times, when we had weekends off, we would travel together. I had known Brian (Geraghty) for a while. With Jeremy, we had met before, but this was our first time working together, and we bonded really quickly.

Do you stay in touch with cast members after shooting a film?

AM: It depends. There are some people that you'll never speak to again. If you are a freaking idiot, I'm not going to be cool with you just because we were in a movie together. Eugene Byrd from '8 Mile' and I have been friends for eight years now. Jeremy, Brian and I will probably be friends forever just because of the situations we faced in the Middle East. When all is said and done, we looked out for each other and took care of each other.

Do you now have a different outlook on the war in Iraq?

AM: My outlook on the war is the same, but I do have a different appreciation for the people fighting the war. Our military is something that I now hold very dear and sacred.

What's next for you after this film?

AM: I'm doing this movie with Kerry Washington, called 'Stringbean and Marcus,' and I'll be doing that in Philadelphia. Then I'm back in New York doing a play at the Public, 'The Bacchae,' which is in Shakespeare in the Park after 'Twelfth Night.'

What's 'Stringbean and Marcus' about?

AM: It's about two civil rights activists who come back together after spending some time apart. Tanya Hamilton is directing the film.

Will this be your first time doing Shakespeare in the Park?

AM: It is. It will be a daring experience because of the raccoons. The Greek plays are meant to be performed outside, and I'm exited to be working with director JoAnne Akalaitis. She's a pioneer of American theater. I've known her for at least 12 years, and it will be cool to work with her on stage and put some crazy costume together.

What's the status with other films you have on your plate, such as 'Bolden' and 'The Jesse Owens Story?'

AM: 'Bolden' is wrapping up. They have put together more than half of it, and we are hoping to have it ready for the 2010 festival circuit, and with 'Jesse Owens,' we haven't started yet. We are solidifying the script and looking for a good director, which is the hardest thing to find.

Is there anything you want to do that hasn't come your way yet?

AM: Comedy. I think I'm a pretty funny dude. I don't want to do a Wayans brothers-type of comedy. I'm more interested in satirical, witty, straight-forward comedy. I'm tired of being the black guy in the movie. I want to do a movie with a group of people that look like the world that I live in.

How do you balance your life when you're doing films, theater, and other events?

AM: It's easy. I don't go out and party and do all that stuff. I have my girlfriend, and we have a great relationship. She looks out for me when I travel, and most of the time, she's with me. My life outside my work is pretty much my family. I don't carry an entourage around me.

Why should anyone see 'The Hurt Locker?'

AM: It's a good story that has good characters. I think it's a war movie the same way 'Three Kings' or 'Full Metal Jacket' was a war movie. It's not about Iraq. It's not about the war. It's not about George Bush or Saddam. It's about the characters and how they relate to the world that they are forced into.