The one person that every looks on to be the hero in a superhero film tends to be the title character. But what about the other people by his side? Most people would title them as “sidekicks” but they are also equally heroes in their own right, especially James “Bucky” Barnes. The fictional character comes to life in the Joe Johnston-directed picture “Captain America: The First Avenger” which is a great delight to many fans of the comics.
The other day we got the awesome opportunity to chat with actor Sebastian Shaw. The sharp-dressed man talked about working with Joe Johnston, Chris Evans and how he originally tried to get his hands on the role of Steve Rogers/Captain America.
ShockYa: I read that put yourself on tape for the role of Captain America, so when they came back to you and said “we’re thinking about you for Bucky” what was your reaction?
Sebastian Stan: “Let’s work together. I’m so glad to be here.”
ShockYa: It sounds like the beefed up the character.
Sebastian Stan: Well, I hadn’t looked up one thing about the character at that point. I was still into the whole Steve Rogers thing. So when I heard I didn’t get it, I thought it my job with that was done. I didn’t know what they were going to do, I hadn’t read the script. They just talked to me about it, and my instincts were really fresh. And then I went back and looked it up, and I was interested in what they were doing. As much as he was endearing character in the start of the comic books, it’s hard to have that now. I think people’s perspectives on war have changed. I feel like it’s more relate-able to have people who are conflicted and live a better life than “I’ll go anywhere!”
ShockYa: You were talking about how you originally went out for Steve Rogers, going on set did you ever give Chris hell?
Sebastian Stan: No, I was very happy to be there. “You take your shirt off, be on camera with that.”
ShockYa: How was like working with him in general?
Sebastian Stan: I loved it, we really hit it off since the beginning. It was nice that we had some time before to get to know each other. I had known him briefly, it’s a small world in Los Angeles, but other than that he’s a generous actor. No matter how many times we did a take, if I wanted to try something he was always my right hand man, talking about scenes with Joe, just being very supportive of virtually anything I brought up. The biggest challenge with him was getting on these laughing fits. We’d be getting ready to shoot and all I’d be trying to do was not laugh.
ShockYa: Did you like wearing the 1940’s stuff?
Sebastian Stan: Absolutely, it just makes you feel so much more cooler. I wonder if that’s how it was. You wear that uniform and you feel so proud to be a soldier, you think “do I really want to go back to the trenches?” I wonder how it was. You can’t not stand up straight, it doesn’t allow to slouch.
ShockYa: How would you describe Joe Johnston’s directorial style?
Sebastian Stan: Very loose for the most part. He would allow us to have enough freedom to try things and see how it goes, and I had to adjust to that a little bit because I was coming from working on Apparition, and working with Darren Aronofsky. Apparition was three actors, I would told about every little thing, so I was used to that style. I had to readjust to Joe, because I had to learn that if he didn’t like what you were doing he would tell you, but if he liked it he wouldn’t do anything. And you should feel free to try different things and fail. That was the vibe I was getting from the screen test, I was never nervous or unsure. He never made me feel that way.
ShockYa: Chris Evans talked about having to sign for a six picture deal, obviously Bucky has gone on to be Captain America. Are there talks of your character returning?
Sebastian Stan: Bucky could return when he’s fifty-five. The option’s possible. That was part of the conversation when I signed up for this, that’s another reason why I was seeing the character a certain way, and thought about laying the groundwork for what’s to come. There’s so much that would need to happen for there to be Captain America dying and replaced, obviously there’s the Avengers, and so much, so it’s too early to say. But it’s possible.
“Captain America: The First Avenger” arrives in theaters everywhere this July 22nd.
