The MCU has developed the impressive trend of having stars that stay with their roles for extended periods of time, some of them dating all the way back to Phase 1 more than a decade ago. While some of the biggest names like Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Evans hung up their superhero costumes after 2019's Avengers: Endgame, others are alive and well heading into Phase 4 and beyond.
Two of those came in the most recent Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprised their roles of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes respectfully. The unlikely duo evolved and adjusted to their new environment after Steve Rogers' retirement, and both survived the final battle, setting themselves up for extended futures through the MCU.
Stan recently chatted about said future, indicating an openness to come back for more.
SEBASTIAN STAN UP FOR MORE BUCKY
MCU star Sebastian Stan came onto the Just for Variety Podcast from Variety to discuss his future as Bucky Barnes after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
When asked how long he sees himself playing the character, Stan admitted that "it's not up to [him]" and that he doesn't "make these decisions." Joking about the fact that he does indeed age, he seems happy to play the role "as long as [Marvel will] keep calling:"
"Again, it’s like, no idea, man. It’s not up to me. I don’t make these decisions. As long as they’ll keep calling, I’m there. I don’t know. I get old, too. Like everyone in the world, I AGE! So I don’t know what that means. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything! I have no idea. I’m just going for the ride."
Alluding to Marvel's ability to de-age stars, Stan talked about roles like his being played for so long that it's "like gaining a family member." He continued, describing how actors "get to see this character again and again" and end up "growing up with" the role in a way.
When Variety's interviewer playfully asked Stan about playing Bucky until he's 80 years old, Stan responded:
"May I be so lucky. It’s really quite wild, it really is. A lot of people on TV, there are shows that have gone on for so many seasons, Friends, I mean, there’s a lot of where…you get to go and play a character for such a long period of time. It’s like gaining a family member. You gain, like, a brother or something in this case for me. You get to see this character again and again, and then you’re always growing up, and they’re sort of growing up with you in a weird way."
NO END FOR THE WINTER SOLDIER IN SIGHT
Sebastian Stan has portrayed James "Bucky" Barnes since 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, making appearances in seven MCU films (two post-credits cameo scenes) before taking a leading role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Now that Bucky is in his right mind again after his Disney+ series, there are no limits to the journey he could take next.
As of now, there are no set projects in which Stan is set to play the role again, although the hope is that he will co-star with Anthony Mackie in the recently-announced Captain America 4. No matter when it comes, the MCU veteran will hopefully have plenty of opportunities to revisit his complicated hero sometime soon.
All six episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are available to stream on Disney+.
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