Sebastian Stan recently remembered Chadwick Boseman with stories of their experiences together while fiming Captain America: Civil War. Stan was a veteran of the MCU when Boseman made his debut in the third installment of the Captain America films. It isn't surprising that the two formed a connection offscreen, considering how deeply intertwined their characters were within the films.
Bucky Barnes (Stan) and T'Challa (Boseman) become acquainted in Captain America: Civil War under harsh circumstances. When T'Challa's father is killed by a bomb detonated by Bucky, he sets out on a mission to avenge his father. However, the two end on better terms when Bucky goes to Wakanda in hopes that they can find a cure for his brainwashing. While Stan didn't star in Black Panther, he did make an appearance in the post-credits scene, where it is revealed that Bucky has been rehabilitated. Boseman and Stan would go on to share the screen in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Sadly, Boseman passed away in 2020 after a long fight with colon cancer, however, he is frequently and fondly remembered by his MCU co-stars.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Stan recently opened up about working with Boseman and shared several touching stories of their time together. When Boseman made his entrance in Captain America: Civil War, Stan realized immediately that he was special and was going to have a huge impact on the MCU. Boseman's intense passion and dedication to the role even made Stan a little scared to engage in fight scenes with him. However, Stan's desire to reciprocate Boseman's intensity led to them both giving their all in the fight scenes. After their fights, the two would share a fist bump to put the intensity behind them. Check out Stan's statement below:
I mean, just like thinking about it now with the whole Chadwick [Boseman] thing is just so crazy. With him, I was always really enamored because I remember on that Civil War movie we met and he had come in and he was new and it’s sort of the introduction of his character. And I was like, “Oh my God, this guy is going to blow everyone away.” You know what I mean? There was such a commitment and dedication to everything he was doing. It was just so crazy. And we had a lot of these fight sequences and I remember being terrified of going into those scenes with him. And we went for it. We really went for it. Because I was like, “Okay, he’s really showing up. I got to stand tall. I got to show up.” And then afterwards we would just do these little fist bumps, like, “Cool, we’re good.” Then after we shot, I spent some time, a little bit, when we would tease each other on these press tours and we would be laughing. It was really cool. And I just, in my head, I’d always hoped that there was just going to be more. So it’s just crazy to even wrap my mind around the idea of being in any world without him there. I just can’t even imagine it really in my mind. But obviously I always felt like, in my little scene at the end of Black Panther, I was always like, “Ah, I’m part of the war. I’m part of that movie.” I felt so good—that little scene.
Stan went on to emotionally describe his difficulty in dealing with Boseman's passing. He recalled the two teasing each other on press tours and the confidence he had that the two would share more moments like that. Stan admitted he still can't quite wrap his mind around the fact that Boseman is gone, but he does cherish his post-credits scene in Black Panther and the fact that he got to be a part of the film, too. The character development that T'Challa thrust Bucky into in Captain America: Civil War, would lead to Bucky's return in the Avengers movies, as well as in his own miniseries, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. It is touching to see that Boseman had almost as much of an impact on Stan behind the scenes as he did onscreen.
Boseman's passing was devastating and shocking to many. The actor kept his illness private and quietly fought cancer for four years, unbeknownst to his many fans and admirers. In the midst of grief, though, it is uplifting to see Marvel's efforts to remember and honor Boseman. Marvel revealed that Black Panther 2 would address Boseman's passing, with a reimagining that would honor and respect the late actor. Many of Boseman's co-stars also strive to keep his legacy alive, sometimes by simply remembering and sharing bits of Boseman's life. Those who miss Boseman will treasure the small snapshot that Stan's Captain America: Civil War memories give of Boseman's incredible talent, work ethic, and passion.
Source: Vanity Fair