Sebastian Stan has opened up about his career challenges before securing his iconic role as the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Stan disclosed that he was financially rescued by a $65,000 residuals payment from his role as Blaine in the 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine, which came at a critical moment before he landed the part of James "Bucky" Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011.
"I was actually struggling with work," Stan shared. "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 Hot Tub Time Machine."
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige expressed to Vanity Fair that despite Stan being relatively unknown at the time, Marvel was eager to cast him as the Winter Soldier. Feige remarked, "You could see that he has so much inside him and so much behind his eyes. I'll never forget that. I said to Stephen Broussard, who was one of the producers on *Captain America*, 'He’s going to be a good Bucky, but he’s going to be a great Winter Soldier.'"Stan's portrayal of Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier has been a significant part of the MCU, reprising the role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), multiple Avengers films, and the recent Captain America: Brave New World. He is set to return as the superhero in the upcoming film Thunderbolts. Additionally, Stan's inclusion in the cast reveal for Avengers: Doomsday suggests that fans can expect to see more of Bucky in the MCU's future.
