Sebastian Stan, who portrays Bucky Barnes in the MCU, has opened up about his future in the Marvel universe. Most recently within the MCU, Stan starred alongside Anthony Mackie in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which premiered on Disney+ earlier this year. Now, Stan has been making waves after pictures released of him in costume as Mötley Crüe drummer, Tommy Lee, in the upcoming drama miniseries, Pam & Tommy.
Stan originally brought the role of James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes, a.k.a., The Winter Soldier, to life in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, the first of the Captain America franchise and the fifth overall film in the MCU. Stan went on to play Barnes in seven other MCU films (including post-credits scenes). Barnes, Captain America’s best friend turned brainwashed assassin for HYDRA, then reformed best friend again, has been a constant and integral part of the Infinity Saga of the MCU. The mere fact of Bucky’s existence has caused many moral quandaries throughout the MCU, including the fallout between Captain America and Iron Man in Civil War. Though many other original actors within the MCU have hung up their capes and masks after Endgame, like the aforementioned Captain America and Iron Man, few have not. Stan continues to portray Barnes throughout The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which takes place chronologically after the events of Endgame.
In an interview with Variety, Stan revealed that he will keep playing Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier as long as Marvel will have him. While joking that his aging may complicate matters, Stan seems absolutely welcome to the idea of being the Winter Soldier for the foreseeable future. Read what he said below:
Again, it’s like, no idea, man. It’s not up to me. I don’t make these decisions. As long as they’ll keep calling, I’m there. I don’t know. I get old, too. Like everyone in the world, I AGE! So I don’t know what that means. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything! I have no idea. I’m just going for the ride.
Stan went on to discuss how his experience has been playing Bucky for all these years, explaining that it’s like gaining another friend or brother that you see all of the time. Stan talked about how when you grow, the characters grow with you, and so he’s gotten to see Bucky grow up:
May I be so lucky. It’s really quite wild, it really is. A lot of people on TV, there are shows that have gone on for so many seasons, Friends, I mean, there’s a lot of where…you get to go and play a character for such a long period of time. It’s like gaining a family member. You gain, like, a brother or something in this case for me. You get to see this character again and again, and then you’re always growing up, and they’re sort of growing up with you in a weird way.
More recently, Stan shocked the world when he posted the first photos of him as Tommy Lee from Mötley Crüe as a part of the upcoming miniseries, Pam & Tommy. Pam & Tommy, which is set to release on Hulu, will detail the real-life relationship between Tommy Lee and actress/bombshell, Pamela Anderson, in the ‘90s. The limited series will follow the couple from their wedding, through the birth of their two children, and end with the physical altercation between the two that put Tommy in jail. Lily James will portray Pamela Anderson, Seth Rogen (who also trended because of his beardless appearance) will play Rand Gauthier, along with many more big names.
Sebastian Stan and Bucky Barnes have both become fan-favorites over the years. Although fans will be sad to see him go—and he will, eventually—it is nice to know that Stan plans on sticking around for as long as he’s welcome. The franchise will not be the same without his earnestness, charm, and comedic chemistry with his scene partners, especially Anthony Mackie.
Source: Variety