Caution: Spoilers for Fresh and Pam & Tommy Ahead!
Between several new releases in 2022, namely Pam & Tommy and Fresh, Sebastian Stan is making every effort possible to fight his MCU image. While Bucky Barnes, Stan's character within the MCU (also known as The Winter Soldier), has had moments of darkness, ultimately Barnes is considered a hero amongst the ranks of the Avengers. However, with his new projects, Stan seems to be taking a road traveled by several other A-list actors who belonged to acclaimed franchises, and is deviating toward darker, more mature material.
Pam & Tommy, which follows the true story of the sex tape released of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, is one such example of this trend. The limited series follows the life and times of debaucherous rock star Tommy Lee (portrayed by Stan) and his torrid affair and marriage with Anderson. The recently released Fresh is similar in tone, as it features a darkly comedic take on modern dating, and showcases Stan as the film’s signature villain, a striking departure from Barnes’ role as Bucky in the MCU.
Between these two entries into Stan’s filmography, it seems that the actor is deliberately fighting his MCU image by taking on roles that involve more mature content. Pam & Tommy, for one, features drug use, nudity, and other moments of rock-and-roll style debauchery, all while using Stan’s performances as the eponymous Tommy Lee to showcase these elements. Similarly, Fresh, which sees Stan playing a villainous cannibal who kidnaps women, is an enormous tonal departure from the honorable and now-peaceful Bucky Barnes, and the image that perhaps Stan is seeking to upend.
As an example, in Fresh, Stan plays the film’s cannibalistic villain, whose devious schemes are entirely unforgivable and unredeemable, unlike his role in the MCU. As a character, Bucky Barnes focuses heavily on the idea of redemption, particularly for someone whose past has been anything but pure. However, in Fresh, Stan is allowed to play the film’s murderous antagonist as delightfully diabolically as he pleases, allowing him to flex his acting chops, and distinguish himself from his role in the MCU.
Similarly, a series like Pam & Tommy showcases not only Stan’s dedication to more adult material, but also to his prowess as an actor, something he can’t always show off in the MCU. For one, the series’ second episode features a lengthy sex scene and a sequence in which Stan as Tommy Lee has a conversation with his penis (voiced ingeniously by Jason Mantzoukas), an obvious tonal departure from the Disney-backed MCU. But, additionally, Stan’s excellent portrayal of a real-life figure demonstrates his capabilities as not only a leading man, but a gifted character actor—a break from the form in his role as Barnes.
Stan, in many ways, has followed the path of long-running franchise actors who have come before him. Robert Pattinson, whose roles post-Twilight often included dark, mature material within the indie film landscape, comes to mind when it comes to Stan’s recent work (despite Pattinson’s more recent appearance as Batman). That said, it’s a welcome change to see Stan stretch his acting muscle and break away from his image in the MCU in shows and films like Pam & Tommy and Fresh.