Sebastian Stan has revealed his career struggles before landing the crucial Marvel Cinematic Universe role of the Winter Solder.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Stan said he was “saved” by a $65,000 residuals payment from Hot Tub Time Machine before he played James “Bucky” Barnes in the original Captain America movie. Stan was antagonist Blaine in the 2010 American science fiction comedy, then went on to star alongside Captain America actor Chris Evans in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger.
“I was actually struggling with work,” Stan said. “I had just gotten off the phone with my business manager, who told me I was saved by $65,000 that came in residuals from Hot Tub Time Machine.”
MCU chief Kevin Feige told Vanity Fair that Marvel Studios was keen on Stan for the Winter Soldier role despite being a relative unknown at the time.
“You could see that he has so much inside him and so much behind his eyes. I’ll never forget that,” Feige said. “I said to Stephen Broussard, who was one of the producers on Captain America, ‘He’s going to be a good Bucky, but he’s going to be a great Winter Soldier.’ ”
Stan went on to reprise his role for 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, the Avengers movies, this year’s Captain America: Brave New World, and is set to play the superhero once again in next month’s Thunderbolts. Stan’s name was among those to appear in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, so we can expect Bucky to stick around the MCU for some time yet.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
