Sebastian Stan actor recently nominated for an Oscar for The Apprentice shared his perspective on the film's impact and his upcoming MCU project Thunderbolts. The Apprentice a movie where Stan portrays a young Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong plays Roy Cohn has garnered significant attention and now Oscar recognition. Simultaneously Marvel Studios unveiled a new trailer for Thunderbolts heightening anticipation for Stan's return as Bucky Barnes.
In a recent interview with Deadline Stan and Strong discussed the journey of The Apprentice from its premiere to Oscar nominations. Stan described the experience as surreal and noted the visceral reaction from audiences during screenings. Stan emphasized the film's ability to transcend politics and explore suppressed feelings. He felt a sense of liberation following the nominations suggesting people might feel more permitted to discuss complex issues after watching the movie.
Strong echoed this sentiment calling The Apprentice a project that touches the third rail due to its intersectional power. He acknowledged the discomfort some might feel engaging with the characters but quoted William Saroyan to underscore the importance of understanding even those who embody evil. Strong likened the movie to a character study and even compared the relationship between Trump and Cohn to the dynamic in Midnight Cowboy.
What Sebastian Stan's Oscar Nomination And Comments Mean For His Career
The Apprentice's Impact Extends Beyond Political Lines
The Oscar nomination for The Apprentice places Sebastian Stan in a prestigious position showcasing his range as an actor beyond his established MCU role. Stan's portrayal of a young Donald Trump in a film described as a "horror movie" by both stars signals a willingness to tackle challenging and complex characters. His reflection on the film encouraging open conversations suggests a desire to engage with projects that provoke thought and discussion.
Jeremy Strong further elaborated on the "horror movie" aspect noting that recent events particularly Trump's return to the political stage amplify the film's unsettling nature. He quoted Roy Cohn's assertion that "This is a nation of men not laws" and connected it to current American political discourse. Strong highlighted the Machiavellian theme of ends justifying means prevalent in the characters' ideologies.
Regarding his acting process Strong revealed his inclination to fully immerse himself in roles even to the point of losing himself. He described it as a joyful process of exploring a psyche different from his own. Despite the darkness of Roy Cohn Strong mentioned the character's elan and life force making the experience less heavy than perceived.
Our Take On Sebastian Stan's Thunderbolts Return After Apprentice Acclaim
Thunderbolts Trailer Hints At Darker Turn For MCU
Simultaneously with the Oscar buzz surrounding The Apprentice Marvel Studios released a new trailer for Thunderbolts. This trailer offered glimpses of Sebastian Stan reprising his role as Bucky Barnes and introduced Lewis Pullman's Sentry as a shadowy and potentially menacing figure. The trailer's tagline "Not super. Not heroes. Not giving up" hints at the team's anti-hero status and the formidable challenges they will face possibly embodied by Sentry's darker side The Void.
Stan's involvement in both a critically acclaimed independent film like The Apprentice and a large-scale MCU project like Thunderbolts demonstrates his versatility and appeal across different genres. His comments about wanting to work on projects he deeply cares about suggest a thoughtful approach to choosing roles. Thunderbolts with its darker themes and team of morally grey characters appears to be another project allowing Stan to explore complex character dynamics within a blockbuster context.
The juxtaposition of Stan's Oscar nomination for portraying a controversial figure and his return as the Winter Soldier in Thunderbolts creates an interesting narrative. It highlights his ability to navigate both serious character-driven roles and action-oriented superhero parts. As audiences anticipate both The Apprentice's release and Thunderbolts' theatrical arrival Sebastian Stan is positioned as a prominent actor capable of captivating viewers across diverse cinematic landscapes.
Source: Deadline, nordot.app , comicbookmovie.com, polygon.com