Sebastian Stan has candidly shared the challenges he faced before securing the pivotal role of the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a revealing interview with Vanity Fair, Stan disclosed that a $65,000 residuals payment from his role in the 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine was a financial lifeline during a period of career uncertainty. In that film, he portrayed the antagonist Blaine, which preceded his breakout performance as James "Bucky" Barnes in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger alongside Chris Evans.
Reflecting on his struggles, 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 expressed his early confidence in Stan's potential for the role of the Winter Soldier, despite the actor being relatively unknown at the time. Feige shared with Vanity Fair, "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 the Winter Soldier has since become iconic within the MCU. He reprised the role in several subsequent films, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), various Avengers movies, and the recent Captain America: Brave New World. Fans can anticipate seeing him reprise the role in the upcoming Thunderbolts. Furthermore, Stan's name featured prominently in the cast reveal for Avengers: Doomsday, indicating that Bucky Barnes will continue to be a significant character in the MCU's future.
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