While Marvel Studios may have been the catalyst for actor Sebastian Stan becoming a global sensation with his portrayal of the Winter Soldier in the MCU, it has also inadvertently limited him in the industry. In a recent episode of the Stronger Podcast, he acknowledged that he should deliver more in his career than just his MCU contributions, saying:
I have to try to offer something different than before, and I’ve never favored one role over another. The Marvel stuff, I’ll always, till the end of time, [feel it] really helped me grow as a person and helped me grow as an actor and it taught me relationships and [I worked with] Robert Downey and Scarlett and all these people I looked up to. It was a business. It was a family and it gave me a sense of belonging, and it’s always there for that, but it was only the step one for me.
Considering his recent involvement in Thunderbolts, which came short at the box office, it seems like the MCU role might just be stagnating. But at the same time, outside of the franchise, Stan managed to make a huge statement with his performances.
Films That Prove Sebastian Stan Is More Than Just MCU’s Winter Soldier
With the release of Thunderbolts, it felt like the MCU was back on its track to what made the franchise great. But despite it being very well received by the audience and critics, the box office numbers didn’t paint the same picture. But his roles in 2024’s The Apprentice and A Different Man were stories of success that mitigated that disappointment.
Stan plays the role of a socially awkward actor named Edward Lemuel in A Different Man, who’s struggling with his career as well as his physical condition, which manifests as disfigured facial features. His performance as the lead in this dark comedy was heavily praised by critics, which led to his nomination at the Golden Globes for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy film.
On the other hand, he also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his depiction of President Donald Trump in the 2024 drama film The Apprentice. His dynamic recreation of the President of the United States was met with both criticism and praise due to its controversial political connotations.
Thus, these high-profile recognitions prove just how much Stan can deliver even outside of the MCU.
Sebastian Stan Will Benefit From Stepping Away From the MCU After Secret Wars
As stated earlier, Sebastian Stan has been playing the role of The Winter Soldier for over a decade now, and thus, his career has now started to revolve around this role. And as we have seen with other popular stars being typecast into their iconic characters, like Breaking Bad’s RJ Mitte, Stan, too, might find himself in this spot in the future.
Along with this, the limited scope of his character in the MCU doesn’t allow him to try something new and unique in his career, which further limits his creativity and talents. Lastly, with the reset that’s coming to the franchise after Phase 6, his role may not even be needed anymore.
Thus, it makes sense for Stan to take his leave from the MCU after the release of Avengers: Secret Wars.
Here’s more information about the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars.
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Thunderbolts is available to stream on Disney+ (US).
