Sebastian Stan: $65,000 Residuals from Hot Tub Time Machine 'Saved' Him Before Winter Soldier

Sebastian Stan has opened up about the challenges he faced in his career before securing the pivotal role of the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Stan revealed that a $65,000 residuals payment from his role as Blaine in the 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine was crucial in helping him through a tough financial period. This unexpected financial lifeline came just before he was cast as James "Bucky" Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011, where he starred alongside Chris Evans.

Stan candidly shared, "I was actually struggling with work. I had just gotten off the phone with my business manager, who told me I was saved by $65,000 that came in residuals from Hot Tub Time Machine."

Marvel Studios' president, Kevin Feige, also spoke to Vanity Fair about their decision to cast Stan as the Winter Soldier. Despite Stan being relatively unknown at the time, Feige saw potential in him, stating, "You could see that he has so much inside him and so much behind his eyes. I’ll never forget that. I said to Stephen Broussard, who was one of the producers on Captain America, 'He’s going to be a good Bucky, but he’s going to be a great Winter Soldier.'"

Stan's portrayal of Bucky Barnes has become a cornerstone of the MCU, with the actor reprising the role in multiple films, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), several Avengers movies, and the recent Captain America: Brave New World. He is also set to return as the character in the upcoming film Thunderbolts. Additionally, Stan's name was included in the cast reveal for Avengers: Doomsday, indicating that fans can expect to see more of Bucky in the MCU's future.