Last week, we highlighted the hot guys at the LA Captain America: The Winter Soldier premiere. My pick for the evening was Sebastian Stan (some of you said on Twitter you’d fight me for him!). It was a tough call, but Chris Evans needs to polish up his press game. Maybe I’ll take him back as my boo at some point, but he is on probation. Hopefully he won’t have a meltdown about it.
Let’s stoke the gossip fire once more. Remember that big, internet-based rumor about Chris possibly being replaced as Captain America after the second movie? I wrote it off as comic-geek fan fiction because Marvel should know better than to replace dat Cap ass. Then Chris started whining again. His heart just wasn’t in it. These superhero films are such a burden, you know? I know he’s so neurotic, but I just want him to act grateful. Everybody has some aspects of their jobs that are a burden, but Chris is getting paid many millions for his burdens. Suck it up.
Enter the latest heavy-hitting promotion circuit. Chris is still playing the reluctant game to chat up his third Avengers-related movie. A dark presence is heating up the background. Cap’s lifelong friend, Bucky Barnes, has returned as a super villain called the Winter Soldier. This character (played by Sebastian) actually replaces Captain America during a decent chunk of the comic book lore. Now — and this is a change — Sebastian is doing press rounds. He appears enthusiastic and thrilled to play this role. Seb didn’t have much to do in the first Cap film, but his role took center stage in this sequel as a “silent, relentless, and driven” threat. Sebastian has just let it drop that he’s got a nine-picture contract with Marvel. Chris Evans doesn’t have that. He has six pictures. The only other actor who has nine is Samuel L. Jackson. This is a pretty big deal:
Will Bucky Barnes become Cap? “I don’t know! [laughs] They don’t tell me anything. That’s just the truth.”
How many films on his Marvel contract? “Uh…I think…I think I actually have nine. Yeah, it’s great job security.”
Did he know the Winter Soldier would be the big baddie? “I did, and I didn’t. It was a ‘maybe.’ It led me to prepare myself for this just in case, but I’m not the guy who gets to shoot the movies. When we wrapped, I had no idea if we’d be back. A lot of that has to do with fan response, the public response. But I did really hope that I’d be back to play this character again.”
On his non-speaking role: “I have to tell you, when I was younger and when I was in acting school, I was the guy saying, ‘Oh, I want more lines!’ But now, you know, I find it more interesting as a viewer to watch ‘the other guy,’ the guy reacting. Dialogue is important. It’s communication; it’s the first way we reach each other. But these days, I find it more interesting to watch the guy who’s listening to the guy talk.”
How much does he care about this movie? “A lot. I’m certainly not contractually obligated to say that; it’s just the truth. Look, at the end of the day, you essentially take a year of your life, and make it about this movie. It takes six months to shoot it, another two months re-shooting it and going back for ADR [additional dialogue recording], and another three months talking to press about it. So you’d better love what you’re doing, right? You’re giving a year of your life to this. And you’re lucky to do that. In my case, I get to be lucky enough to do this for multiple years. So yeah, you have to learn about the character, love the character, and for me, there was no question—I had to read up, as much as I could. And fortunately, I’m not building from scratch here. There’s plenty of stories and material that tell you that Bucky acts a certain way, and there are plenty of fans who are very opinionated and will help you find out more and appreciate it all. I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right.”
[From Newsarama]
Sebastian told Topless Robot that he doesn’t think he’s a part of Age of Ultron, but we’ll see. The implications of Sebastian having a nine-picture contract to play the Winter Soldier are astounding. Even Robert Downey Jr. only started out with a four-film contract. Marvel has big plans for Sebastian, and I think there’s a chance that Chris Evans might get his wish to be left behind. The Hollywood Reporter has picked up on this detail too and notes, “That Stan is signed for three more movies than Evans seems odd at first glance, but it does make you wonder.” Yes, it really does.
Photos courtesy of Marvel Studios & WENN
God, I am completely screwed if all men learn the power of a good suit. That first pic? Yowza.
I have to ask though – a 9 pic deal wouldn’t mean that he would have a MAJOR part in all 9 pictures, would it? Plus the fact that he’s already down to 7 movies out of that initial 9 with the first Captain America and this one. I don’t know enough about how the Winter Soldier fits into the overall Marvel mythology to comment on what kind of a part he would play in the upcoming projects (to the interwebs!)
Definitely doesn’t mean every one of those would be a starring role, Evans’ brief cameo in Thor 2 counted as one. But that is still a surprisingly big number. I think it can only mean he becomes the next Cap. Even if he takes Loki’s place as the next multiple story-arc bad guy, that is quite a hefty number. o_O
Chris has already clarified that his cameo in Thor 2 doesn’t count. His 6 movies will be Captain America 1-3 and The Avengers 1-3.
Sebastian’ 9 picture deal definitely doesn’t mean he’s actually going to be in 9 movies, or that they will be big roles. However, it must be significant that they secured him for 9 pictures when they only have Chris locked down for 6. Marvel might be able to convince Chris to resign for e.g. 3 more movies but Sebastian only stars in one franchise so by the time Chris negotiates a new deal, Sebastian will only have been in three movies anyway. Unless, Marvel is prepared for the franchise to go on without Chris, like in the comics where Winter Soldier takes over as Captain America for a while. And that’s what I think his 9 picture deal means.
Huh. I thought I read that Thor 2 did count for Chris, and that he was happy to get one more knocked off his required list. Which fits his Captain Complainy Pants thing, but I could be recalling incorrectly.
@lamocha – those appearances do count on the Marvel contracts (or at least the old ones) which was why they all bargained hard coming into Avengers 2, which was actually pretty big news. They’re not throwing Marvel freebies, though I would imagine that newer contracts have cameos already negotiated in them, separate from the committed numberof films.
No it doesn’t need to be a major role, he would just have to make appearances in nine films and as you have said, he’s already fulfilled two appearances of his nine picture deal.
Am just trying to figure out what ones he would be likely to be in. Guesses below:
– 3rd Captain America (dat Cap Ass carks it, Sebastian takes over)
– Small role In Age of Ultron.
– Role in any Hawkeye/Black Widow movie (I know that his backstory is mixed up worth hers in the comics) or a standalone period origins movie for the Window Soldier.
Am guessing that after/during any combo of the above, he would have a standard 3 pics as Captain America and then a random cameo in someone else’s movie?
Yes. Could it also be a factor of signing an actor while his rates are still relatively cheap?
Window=/=Winter. Stupid fat fingers on my iPad 😜
@Apples: I think that would definitely be a major factor too.
His super power must be the ability to remove women’s underpants
that is a seriously good looking man
Captain America dies in the comics, the Civil War storyline. If they do decide to let Chris out of his deal then they will make Winter Soldier Captain America. Plus, Bucky has been in a lot of things as far as comics go so I’m interested to see what route they go.
He’s hot. I hope he’ll completely overshadow that boring Evans in WS.
Stan is freaking dreamy but lay off my Captain Sexy.
Stan looks hot as hell in character as “The Winter Soldier” just like Hiddles looked hot as Loki. Fortunately Stan looks hot out of character as well. Hiddles is attractive and I wouldn’t kick him out of my bed if he hopped in but I prefer my men brunette.
There’s a lot of prettiness at that press table and I’m not talking about Johansson.
re: pretty at that press table- I know!
Anthony Mackie (and his muscles) in that purple henley shirt made me want to lick my screen! 😉
I know, look how he’s cutting his eyes over to Chris. Mackie is hot.
…and damn Evans and Stan have very pretty and kissable looking lips.
I prefer call him “Sebastian” in CumberSherlock style. 🙂 After they’ll (hopefully) kill his character, Chris Blandness is all yours. 🙂 I can’t take Hiddles seriously after his People choice acceptance speech and £1 a day food challenge.
@Toniko LOL at all three comments, esp the last one. You would have thought it was an oscar.
Maybe Stan can do to Evans what Hiddles did to Hemsworth. Either way, I’ll take all of them.
Bring it on Stan.
The problem with these long term contracts is that the studio gets you on the cheap. With every successful film your earning power increases but because you caged yourself with that initial deal you see none of that. On the rare occassion that a studio is willing to renegotiate, it never reflects the actors real value. It makes for a very bitter actor, just ask Chris Hemsworth and company. Plus the scheduling can keep you from important opportunities.
He probably thinks he struck gold because he now has an assured gig but I doubt he still feels that way afew years in, when guys with less star power and screen time are getting way more than he is.
I agree, but it’s not like he was in the position to say no. The Marvel movies are a big deal and I would say their contracts still have more flexibility (because each movies takes around 2 movies to make) than a long-term TV contract. Look at the other Gossip Girl stars. While the show was a big hit, the quality quickly declined but the actors were locked in their contracts. By the time the show ended, the hype was over.
I agree with everything but your prediction that guys with less star power and screen time will be getting paid more, at least if we’er talking about future Marvel movies. They’ve shown that they have no problem casting people who aren’t big stars, and I suspect anyone they sign from now on is going to have a lower-paying, long-term contract. The only people who will be getting paid are those whose initial contracts have expired but who still want to appear in the movies and who are worth keeping around.
I dont know about this. The studios are still stunt casting. Its not enough to have a comic book hero, a respectable cast is still a must. RDJ was lucky that he had that smart wife of his and that he didnt handcuff himself like this guy has done. Remember Terrence made far more than RDJ from that first film. Now imagine if they were both sitting on this kind of contract. Its not just these Superhero films either, theres a similar problem with the Star Trek films, where Quinto (I believe, could be a different actor though) is taking home peanuts because he was so poorly advised.
@lovething: do you have a link to the Star Trek stuff? I’d be really interested on reading about it.
When they were promoting Avengers, Evans stated that Marvel originally demanded that he sign on for nine but he did not want to commit to that length of time, so they negotiated for six. Cameos in other Marvel films (like Downey popping up at the end of the Hulk film, Renner in Thor, and Evans in Thor 2) and appearances in the closing credit scenes or the One Shots, the short films, that Marvel puts on the Blu-Ray/DVDs (Sam Rockwell and Ben Kingsley in the one on the Thor2 DVD) count against the contract too. They can stick Stan in all sorts of cameo bits throughout the other Marvel films without it effecting Captain America or Chris Evans at all.
That has been my understanding of the Marvel contracts as well, that all the cameos and/or One Shots count too. Nine does seem high though. Isn’t just about everyone else signed on for six? Marvel could just be increasing the contract since they now they have an audience for their films and latest word on the street is that they might start releasing two or three pictures a year instead of just one so that could be a factor too.
I’m actually looking forward to this film.
I think Sam Jackson has a 9 pic deal.
Marvel has renegotiated on the cameos and Evans at least had specifically said that his Thor 2 appearance does not count. I am pretty sure that Marvel made the clarification after RDJ and SLJ used their early cameos to make Marvel come back to the table. The cameos are now a separate deal.
Marvel may or may not exercise the 9-picture deal with Sebastian. It probably reflects his weak negotiating position more than anything else. But I can see why Marvel wants those big contracts, because no matter what happens with Captain America, the Winter Soldier can still be useful. They’ve got the Hulk still, and the Ant Man franchise, too, after all, and they’ve shown themselves completely willing to stray far from the comic books if they think it makes a good movie. Sebastian doesn’t have to be just a Cap actor.
Initially, Evans said that his Thor2 appearance did count, so that must have been part of the re-negotiations.
Certainly Sebastian Stan’s negotiating power is weaker than Chris Evans’, but weaker than Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth (before their breakouts)? Both Hiddleston and Hemsworth also “only” have a 6 picture deal.
If WS becomes a big hit, then Marvel could potentially spin him off to his own franchise like in the comics. But that has not even happened with Loki, and he’s already overshadowed the lead of his franchise so I remain doubtful of that possibility. WS also share history with Black Widow so he could appear in her movie… except Marvel isn’t rushing to make that movie either.
They would not “stick Stan in all sorts of cameo bits throughout the other Marvel films” because the Winter Soldier is not a character like Fury who appears all over the place. He’s mainly with the Captain America franchise. He could appear in The Avengers – except Sebastian has said he hasn’t been invited to TA2 so it doesn’t look like he’s appearing in that franchise either.
I can’t imagine the Winter Soldier as a cameo bit in any of the Marvel properties. But depending on how they’ve outlined Phase 3, I could see him being a major part of another storyline with the Hulk, Ant-Man, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, or (obviously) Black Widow and Hawkeye.
I’m avoiding rumors/spoilers on Winter Soldier but it’s sounding like SHIELD goes down, right? So who knows what happens next.
That’s what I think they’re going to do with the Winter Soldier too, Ellen. If he proves popular with fans (and I think he will), he could help launch one new heroes’ movies by playing villain roles there.
His 9 picture deal may mean something big, or it may mean that Stan was willing to sign the 9 picture deal for cheap that Marvel likes to throw at it’s actors, especially the relatively unknown ones. Marvel has now locked this kid into a 9 picture deal for not a lot of cash. They will not have to pay him if he becomes a bigger star with a bigger part who would normally ask for more money as the fame and part grew. Marvel doesn’t have to use him for 9 movies, but now they have the option and they won’t have to pay him much.
Can these movies please just end already? They’re all the same.
Adam Kitsis and Eddie Horowitz just cried into their breakfast because I guess this means he won’t be coming back to Once Upon a Time as the Hatter 🙁
Maybe not. Marvel and ABC are part of Disney. Something could be worked out. His Mad Hatter was the best part of Once Upon a Time for me.
Slight correction, it’s Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.
That’s what I was thinking! It sucks. 🙁 I loved him as the Hatter (especially his episode). Once Upon a Time in Wonderland really missed out on not having the Hatter too.
Marvel learned their lesson with RDJ- I’m surprised they stop at 9 movies! Seriously, you have to wonder where the saturation point is? I like the comics fine, but the movies are feel like CGI fests with bits of dialogue that last for 10 mins tops.
Marvel has plans for movies 5+ years in the future. I think they just like to have their new characters committed for as long as they might possibly want to use them.
Not that the idea of Bucky taking over Steve’s job is that unlikely. It’s canon, and they may want to keep Captain America around after Evans’ contract is up. But it’s by no means assured. A lot of it will depend on how audiences respond to Stan this time around, and the audience’s continued interest in Cap as a character matters too. If interest in him wanes by the time Avengers 3 comes out, they might not bother with recasting.
Is it me or does this guy look like he could be related to Timothy Olyphant?
Sebastian is hot, though he looks short compared to the rest of them.
What does Chris Evans do besides Marvel movies? Has his career taken off? If he’s complaining so much he’s probably secure in his career but I can’t remember anything that he is in at the moment.
@”though he looks short compared to the rest of them.@
But he’s not. http://savepic.su/4250019.jpg
Scarlett has a nine picture deal as well. Just because they have a multi-picture deal doesn’t mean that they will use her for all nine, nor does it mean she will soon became a lead. It just means they want to keep all their options open while they can on the cheap.
refreshing interview.
he pulls off gratitude for this opportunity without gushing and sounding insincere.
what a contrast to chris.
@original kay – I thought Chris never gushed? I thought he only moaned…
he is romanian 😀 (doesn’t even matter, i know, it’s just a cute detail for me since I’m romanian as well).
Nine movies about the winter soldier? That sounds odd.. but interesting, I really like Sebastian. He’s so hot!
I like him a lot. He’s talented and really hot. Hope the exposure from Captain America will get him more roles.
the nine picture deal isn’t odd. remember they wanted chris evans to sign on for nine pictures as well. but he was able to negotiate it down to six.
anyways bedhead, i hate to sound like a broken record, but chris evans never actually said his “heart isn’t in it.” that quote is completely made up. all he said was, once his marvel contract is done, he might not act as much and implied that he wanted to focus on directing. here’s the link to the glamour uk interview: https://24.media.tumblr.com/2f6aa342af709830e1917f8dd8e3a884/tumblr_n22nq4ENxn1r00f26o1_1280.jpg
https://31.media.tumblr.com/291cafa8bfaec2d35579299e67f0e95f/tumblr_n22nq4ENxn1r00f26o2_1280.jpg
I agree. Evans has been talking publicly about how he’d like to direct, including on a Spreecast this past summer. Given how he clearly hates to be papped, if he has any talent at all as a director, he should go off and do that instead. Let people who want to act, and want the limelight, have those opportunities. Look at John Favreau: better director than actor. Marvel likes Evans – they hired him Johnny Storm and then heavily pursued him for Cap – maybe they’d let him direct a future Guardians of the Galaxy or something.
Wow wow wow, I can’t believe I never noticed how good-looking Sebastian Stan is. He has some really nice blue eyes.