"Sebastian Stan: $65K Residuals from Hot Tub Time Machine Saved Him Before Winter Soldier"

Sebastian Stan has opened up about his career challenges before securing the pivotal role of the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Stan disclosed that a $65,000 residuals payment from his role as Blaine in the 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine essentially "saved" him financially before he landed the part of James "Bucky" Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011, starring alongside Chris Evans.

“I was actually struggling with work,” Stan admitted. “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.”

“You could see that he has so much inside him and so much behind his eyes. I’ll never forget that,” Feige remarked. “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/Winter Soldier has been a cornerstone in the MCU, reprising the role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), various Avengers films, and the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. He is also slated to appear in Thunderbolts next month. Moreover, Stan's inclusion in the cast reveal for Avengers: Doomsday indicates that fans can look forward to seeing Bucky in future MCU projects.