The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to add more heroes and villains into the mix, meaning that more projects are being developed behind the scenes. While the Infinity Saga mainly focused on the big screen, the MCU's Phase 4 is taking it up a notch by expanding onto the small screen, leading to the arrival of Disney+ shows such as WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige addressed the so-called overabundance of MCU content, noting that the uniqueness of each Disney+ series prevented such an impression and also saying that he "feels like the audience has responded the way we wanted them to."
However, as the massive superhero franchise expands, many would agree that it might be hard to keep track of the MCU's story. This is on top of the ever-growing cast of characters, the topic of what is and isn't canon to the franchise, and the introduction of the vast Multiverse.
Now, one of the MCU veterans opened up about the interconnected storyline of the franchise that keeps on growing.
Sebastian Stan Needs to Catch Up on MCU's Phase 4
Sebastian Stan, who plays the MCU's Bucky Barnes, sat down with Josh Horowitz of The Happy Sad Confused podcast to talk about the expansive Phase 4 of the franchise.
When asked if he currently has a handle on the Marvel Cinematic Universe's potentially confusing expansion into Phase 4, the Winter Soldier actor admitted that he needs some catching up to do, revealing that he's a "little behind on a couple [of] things." Despite that, Stan shared that he's "always amazed and in awe" of the massive superhero franchise:
"I certainly do need to do some catching up myself. I know I’m a little behind on a couple [of] things. Yeah, but I’m so always amazed and in awe of the massive universe of it all that sort of they were able to build like Kevin [Feige] came up with. It does span 10, 12, 15 years, so it’s a lot of years that went in the making and so I was getting a little nostalgic about that, but I think it is an evolving thing. I think you do have to keep up to date with it."
Stan then pointed out the MCU is doing a "great job of immediately filling" fans in even if they missed out on something:
"But then I also feel like they do such a great job of immediately filling you in even if you sort of missed out [on] something, but it doesn’t sound like people are missing out. I think they’re pretty connected to it. I always have to catch up [with] Tom Hiddleston because I know he’s always out there."
The Expansive Marvel Franchise
Sebastian Stan's reveal that he needs some catching up to do with the MCU's Phase 4 is not unusual, especially considering the actor's busy schedule for non-Marvel projects. This is on top of his confirmation that he still hasn't seen Tom Holland's Spider-Man: No Way Home, a film that has massive repercussions for the MCU and the Multiverse.
This also isn't the first time that Stan offered praise for the MCU and Marvel Studios. Stan previously pointed out that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige deserves so much credit for "putting this entire thing together" while admiring how the movies and shows are intricately tied to one another.
After the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it is unknown what's next for Bucky, but signs point that Stan will reprise his role in Captain America 4, where he will be reunited with Anthony Mackie's new Star-Spangled Avenger.
Given that his next potential project is more on the grounded level of storytelling, Stan not being aware of the Multiverse-centric narrative presented in projects like Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would be fitting with his character arc.
Fans can catch Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, now streaming on Disney+.
