Sebastian Stan is officially an Academy Award nominated actor after starring in two critically-acclaimed 2024 movies. Some of Sebastian Stan’s best movies include Fresh, I, Tonya, and The Martian. He is also well-known for portraying Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Stan has had an incredibly successful career, but he arguably had the best year of his career in 2024. In 2024, Stan starred in The Apprentice and A Different Man, two movies that have been applauded by audiences and critics.

After a successful year, Stan has officially been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar at the 2025 Academy Awards for his role in The Apprentice. In addition to Stan, actors Adrian Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, and Ralph Fiennes were nominated for Best Actor at the 2025 Academy Awards. Stan is up against some incredible actors, but no matter the result, his nomination is well-deserved after his outstanding work in 2024.

Sebastian Stan Delivered Two Great Performances In 2024 With The Apprentice & A Different Man

The Apprentice & A Different Man Are Two Of 2024’s Best Movies

It is rare for an actor to receive awards buzz for two different roles in the same year. However, this is what Stan accomplished heading into the 2025 Academy Awards. In 2024, Stan starred in both The Apprentice and A Different Man. A Different Man is a dark comedy film about Edward, an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis which has led to a disfiguring facial condition. Edward undergoes a procedure to change his face, only for him to end up envying Oswald, a man with the exact same facial condition he once had.

While Stan was not nominated for A Different Man, he did receive a nomination for his role in The Apprentice. The Apprentice is a biopic about a young Donald Trump as he is on the rise as a real estate businessman in 1970s New York. The Apprentice currently has a score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes (via Rotten Tomatoes). In addition to Stan, the cast of The Apprentice also features Jeremy Strong, who received an Academy Award nomination in the Supporting Actor category.

Sebastian Stan’s Oscar Nomination Continues The Awards Recognition For His Performances

Stan Won A Golden Globe For A Different Man

Stan’s nomination for The Apprentice marks the first time he has been nominated for an Academy Award. However, it was not entirely unexpected, as he has been receiving a lot of recognition during awards season for his roles in The Apprentice and A Different Man. At the 2025 Golden Globes, he was actually nominated for an award for both of the films. He was nominated for Best Actor in the Drama category for The Apprentice, and won in the Musical or Comedy category for A Different Man.

However, Stan missed out on a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will be held on February 23, 2025, one week before the Oscars. All of Stan’s fellow Best Actor nominees are nominated for a SAG Award, and they are joined by Daniel Craig for his work in Queer. After the SAG nominations, it was clear that either Stan or Craig would receive the last spot in the Best Actor category at the Oscars. Obviously, the Academy favored Stan’s performance in The Apprentice.

Will Sebastian Stan Win Best Actor At The 2025 Oscars?

It Is Unlikely That Stan Will Win The Best Actor Oscar

It is an incredible achievement to be nominated for an Academy Award. However, Stan is not currently a favorite to win an Oscar at the 2025 ceremony. Brody, Chalamet, Domingo, and Fiennes were all considered to be guaranteed nominees, whereas Stan was battling with Craig for the last spot. Therefore, out of all the 2025 Best Actor nominees, Stan is probably the least likely to win.

Currently, it seems like the Academy Award for Best Actor will go to either Brody or Chalamet. Brody previously won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in the Drama category, besting Chalamet, but his film, The Brutalist, has recently received criticism for utilizing AI. Therefore, the controversy over the use of AI in The Brutalist could lead to Chalamet winning the Best Actor Oscar. Even though Sebastian Stan’s performance in The Apprentice was amazing, it is highly unlikely that he will win the Oscar.