Sebastian Stan gets candid about how integral his Marvel Cinematic Universe casting became for his acting career. The MCU timeline has changed over the decades with its line-up of heroes and villains, but one of the core characters who is still with the franchise is Bucky Barnes. After the long journey he has had throughout the many phases of the MCU, Bucky is getting ready to return to the screen, as he will be starring in Thunderbolts* as of May.

In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Stan opened up on how crucial his casting for Captain America: The First Avenger ended up being for his overall career. Stan was candid that before getting cast as Bucky for the MCU, his career was struggling, as he shared the following:

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 ‘H๏τ Tub Time Machine.’

What Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes Casting Story Means For His MCU Legacy

Hearing the impact the Bucky casting had for Stan serves as a great reminder how instrumental some of these superhero gigs can be for actors, especially for anyone still establishing a name for themselves in the industry. While Bucky only had a supporting role in Captain America: The First Avenger, it didn’t take long for the MCU to start growing Stan’s presence in the franchise, with him becoming the central antagonist in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

As a result of the complex and compelling arc that came from these films, the MCU was able to show Stan’s range throughout many projects from Marvel Studios, helping take the actor’s career to where it is now. Had Stan never landed his role as Bucky in the MCU, it’s possible his path may not have led to projects like A Different Man and The Apprentice, with the latter earning him his first Academy Award nomination.

More than a decade later, the MCU is positioning Bucky as essentially the leader for the Thunderbolts* characters, and Stan is also getting ready to reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday. Given how praised Stan’s performance as Bucky has been since 2011, it’s not a guarantee that his character would be where he is now had another actor been tapped.

Our Take On Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes Casting Story

Knowing now how game-changing it was for Stan to land his MCU gig, it’s also really hard to imagine anyone but him bringing Bucky’s story to the big screen over the last couple of years. That is why it will be incredible to see how The Multiverse Saga concludes this chapter of Bucky’s story and what it will set up for his future beyond Phase 6. But for now, MCU fans can look forward to seeing Bucky back in theaters starting next month with Thunderbolts*.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  

  
  

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  
  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  
  

  Avengers: Doomsday

  Release Date

  
  May 1, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  
  

  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  
  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  
  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

Source: Vanity Fair