Sebastian Stan has candidly shared his career challenges before securing his iconic role as the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Stan revealed that a timely $65,000 residuals payment from his role in the 2010 sci-fi comedy "Hot Tub Time Machine" was a financial lifeline during a tough period. He played the antagonist Blaine in the film, which preceded his breakout role as James "Bucky" Barnes in "Captain America: The First Avenger" in 2011.
Stan recounted, "I was actually struggling with work. 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."
Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige spoke to Vanity Fair about their decision to cast Stan as the Winter Soldier, despite his relative obscurity at the time. Feige expressed confidence in Stan's potential, saying, "You could see that he has so much inside him and so much behind his eyes. I’ll never forget that. 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's portrayal of Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier has been a cornerstone of the MCU, with the actor reprising his role in several key films including "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014), "Captain America: Civil War" (2016), various Avengers movies, and the upcoming "Captain America: Brave New World" and "Thunderbolts." His inclusion in the cast reveal for "Avengers: Doomsday" further solidifies Bucky's enduring presence in the franchise.
