Credit: Inside the MagicIn a recent interview with GQ, Sebastian Stan, best known for his role as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, drew an unexpected link between his iconic character and former President Donald Trump.
“I went off to Marvel after The Apprentice,” Stan noted that while filming the upcoming movie Thunderbolts*, he would occasionally find himself grappling with the lingering effects of portraying Donald Trump in a recent biopic. “And we were doing scenes, and I would do something, a thing or two, and be like, ‘F***! This is still living somewhere.’”
The Apprentice was directed by Ali Abbasi from a screenplay by Gabriel Sherman and stars Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, and Maria Bakalova. The movie depicts Trump (Stan) in his years as a real estate developer in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s and his tutelage under Roy Cohn (Strong), the notorious American attorney who reportedly acted as a mentor figure to the future president.
The film premiered earlier this year at the 77th Cannes Film Festival to strong reviews and, unsurprisingly, has already been threatened with legal action by Trump.
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It is worth noting that Bucky, who has wrestled with identity, redemption, and manipulation throughout the MCU, can be seen as a mirror to figures like Trump, who have complicated public personas.
Stan’s portrayal of Bucky has been praised as one of the more complex figures in the franchise; sometimes, he has been a tragic villain, a reluctant hero, and even a comedic figure. However, picking up character traits from the former president is definitely a new one.
Stan’s commentary also invites fans and critics alike to reconsider how characters in blockbuster franchises often reflect broader societal issues. The blurring of lines between hero and villain is a common theme in modern storytelling, and Stan’s revelation suggests that even characters steeped in moral ambiguity can evolve in ways that reflect contemporary anxieties.
Bucky’s struggles with his past and his search for identity resonate in an era marked by contentious political divides and shifting cultural narratives.
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As the MCU continues to expand, Bucky’s trajectory raises questions about accountability, power, and redemption in a world that often seems chaotic and unpredictable. The idea that Bucky might embody traits reminiscent of Trump is both intriguing and unsettling.
Sebastian Stan’s insights prompt a re-evaluation of not just Bucky as a character but also the cultural narratives that influence how we perceive leadership and morality. In an age where the line between entertainment and reality blurs, Stan’s remarks encourage viewers to look deeper into the stories being told and the lessons they might hold. Bucky Barnes, once simply a sidekick, is becoming an ever more complex figure, reflecting the turbulent times we live in.