Marvel vs. Trump

Sebastian Stan recently opened up about the challenge of shaking off the habits he picked up while portraying Donald Trump in The Apprentice as he transitioned back to his familiar role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Stan takes on the role of the former U.S. president in Ali Abbasi's upcoming film, which traces Trump's rise as a real estate mogul in the 1970s and 80s.

After completing The Apprentice, Stan resumed his role as Bucky Barnes for Marvel's Thunderbolts, set to release in May next year. However, the shift between characters wasn’t easy. Stan shared, “I’d be on set at Marvel, doing scenes, and suddenly a mannerism from Trump would slip out, and I’d think, ‘f***! This is still in there.’”

Stan, who went through a physical transformation for the role, including gaining 15 pounds, talked about the demanding process of preparing for both characters. The overlap between The Apprentice and Thunderbolts meant he had to get back into superhero shape, only for the production to be delayed due to Hollywood strikes. He joked about the challenge, saying, “I’m f***ing 41, I just worked pretty hard to get in shape here.”

The upcoming film, set to release just before the U.S. elections, explores the rise of Trump and raises questions about how the current political landscape came to be. Despite the controversy surrounding its timing, Stan expressed his trust in Abbasi's vision, noting the importance of the story in today’s context.

Stan’s portrayal of real-life figures isn't new — he’s previously embodied characters like Jeff Gillooly in I, Tonya and Tommy Lee in Pam Tommy. But he's still best known for his role as the Winter Soldier in the MCU.