Sebastian Stan Recalls the Two Major Franchise Roles He Lost Out On

Sebastian Stan Recalls the Two Major Franchise Roles He Lost Out On

As a fan and admirer of Sebastian Stan‘s versatile acting talent, it’s fascinating to delve into his career journey and the roles he almost played. His tenure as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been nothing short of remarkable, and it’s captivating to see him excel in both mainstream blockbusters and more indie projects alike.


Sebastian Stan began to gain significant public recognition through his recurring role on “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2010, yet it was primarily following this period that he skyrocketed to international stardom due to his portrayal of Bucky Barnes in the 2011 film, “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Given his continued role (such as in the 2025 film “Thunderbolts”), he has held one of the longest-running roles among any Marvel Cinematic Universe actors.

Absolutely, Stan has been a valuable member in various notable productions following his entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, demonstrating his undeniable expertise in his field. In 2024, he appeared in A24’s film “A Different Man” and the Donald Trump biopic “The Apprentice,” delivering outstanding performances in both. Although neither movie was a box office sensation, they received positive reviews, with many praising Stan as a standout performer. These art-house films represent a significant departure from his work on blockbuster franchises, but despite his critical acclaim, Stan has expressed regret over missing some mainstream franchise roles, as he shared during an interview with Josh Horowitz on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.

The first character he brings up is Captain James Tiberius Kirk from J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” (2009). This role came before his portrayal of Bucky Barnes by two years, and it was eventually taken on by Chris Pine. This role likely propelled Pine to stardom, and one might speculate that it could have done the same for Stan, as he himself put it.

playing Captain Kirk in the J.J. Abrams reboot. They recalled having a screen test at Paramount and even a separate photo shoot mimicking William Shatner’s images to demonstrate their likeness, yet they didn’t end up landing the role.

Sebastian Stan Was Almost the Green Lantern

Sebastian Stan Recalls the Two Major Franchise Roles He Lost Out OnSebastian Stan Recalls the Two Major Franchise Roles He Lost Out OnSebastian Stan Recalls the Two Major Franchise Roles He Lost Out OnSebastian Stan Recalls the Two Major Franchise Roles He Lost Out OnSebastian Stan Recalls the Two Major Franchise Roles He Lost Out On

Stan missed out on a second opportunity, which was a film released alongside Captain America: The First Avenger during the same summer: none other than Green Lantern, a movie that received negative critical reviews and underperformed at the box office with Ryan Reynolds in the lead role. Although missing out on this part may have been painful initially, a part of him is grateful for it now since if he had taken the role, the likelihood of him also appearing as Bucky Barnes in another superhero movie during the same summer would be quite low.

Without further ado, although Hal Jordan was the main character in that movie and had a more flamboyant role compared to Barnes in The First Avenger, the previous film has become a warning about prioritizing special effects over storyline and character growth. Incidentally, it’s also a running gag in the Deadpool films. However, Bucky Barnes has undergone significant transformation and continues to be just as important, if not more so, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as he initially was.

Another role I auditioned for was Green Lantern. Upon arrival, Justin Timberlake, Jared Leto, Ryan Reynolds, and possibly one other individual were also present. Looking at the contenders, I thought to myself, ‘I’m doomed! This isn’t happening!’ Yet, I came close, but it wasn’t meant to be. Reflecting on this now, I must admit that I am almost grateful it didn’t work out. I’m unsure if I could have managed the level of attention some of those individuals received.

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2024-10-21 05:34