Sebastian Stan has opened up about the challenges he faced in his acting career before landing one of the most iconic roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as the Winter Soldier.

In a revealing interview with Vanity Fair, Stan recalled how he received a crucial financial boost just as he was navigating a tough period in his career. A $65,000 residuals check from his role in the 2010 sci-fi comedy Hot Tub Time Machine came at exactly the right time—just before he portrayed James "Bucky" Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger. At the time, Stan played the character of Blaine in Hot Tub Time Machine, a performance that unknowingly helped keep him afloat financially.

“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.”

Despite not being a household name back then, Stan caught the attention of MCU chief Kevin Feige, who saw immense potential in him for the role of Bucky Barnes. Feige shared his confidence in Stan during the Vanity Fair interview, recalling the early days of casting for Captain America.

“You could see that he has so much inside him and so much behind his eyes. I’ll never forget that,” Feige said. “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.’ ”

That instinct clearly paid off. Stan reprised the role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), various Avengers films, Captain America: Brave New World (2025), and will soon return as the Winter Soldier in Thunderbolts, set to release next month. Additionally, Stan’s name appears in the cast list for Avengers: Doomsday, indicating that Bucky Barnes will continue to play a meaningful role in the evolving MCU narrative.