Sebastian Stan is completely unrecognizable wearing facial prosthetics in the first look at his upcoming A24 film, A Different Man. The Romanian-American actor is best known for his role as Bucky Barnes, also known as the Winter Soldier, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his most recent appearance coming in the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Stan has also recently turned in a few intriguing performances on Hulu as the Mötley Crüe drummer in Pam & Tommy, which earned him his first Emmy nomination, and as a charismatic cannibal in the feature film, Fresh.
Following Fresh, Stan has another peculiar horror-tinged thriller on the way. Produced by the indie studio A24 and written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, A Different Man tells the story of Edward, an outcast yearning for a new life who decides to undergo facial reconstructive surgery. Following the procedure, he becomes obsessed with an actor starring as him in a stage production based on his former life. The psychological thriller cast Stan in June 2022 with plans to begin production the following month.
Now, the first look at A Different Man has surfaced online and the MCU actor looks utterly unrecognizable in the role. Shared via Sebastian Stan's official Instagram page, the 39-year-old actor can be seen wearing a series of facial prosthetics which significantly alter his appearance, reminiscent of John Hurt in The Elephant Man. Check out the BTS image below:
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Other than Stan, A Different Man also stars The Worst Person in the World's Renate Reinsve and Under the Skin's Adam Pearson, the latter who previously collaborated with Schimberg on his last film, Chained for Life. Also a British television presenter in addition to an actor, Pearson has been open about living with neurofibromatosis type 1 and the vicious bullying he has endured throughout his life. Based on the first look at the film, it can be surmised that Stan will be playing Edward, a character with same genetic condition who eventually undergoes undergo facial reconstructive surgery, and Pearson will be the one who portrays his character in a stage play.
Considering Schimberg's past work and Pearson's casting, A Different Man should treat its sensitive subject matter with thoughtfulness and care. The film could explore the societal stigmas surrounding those suffering from deformities, and will likely avoid misrepresenting them monsters as the horror genre has in the past. Now that A Different Man is officially in production, the A24 film could receive a theatrical release in early to mid-2023.
Source: Sebastian Stan/Instagram