Last January, Captain America star Sebastian Stan had Sundance audiences buzzing about his dark comedy The Bronze, especially since he gets pretty damn naked in an extended (and highly flexible) sex scene. “I was a maybe too enthusiastic about it,†Stan told us with a grin last night at the opening night of The Heidi Chronicles, “but I certainly, uh, brought everything I had.â€
And then some! Stan plays a preening gymnastics coach in the film, and when he finally has his romp with Melissa Rauch’s former Olympic athlete, the two of them cartwheel, leap, and pile-drive each other in the nude. “I really enjoyed the people I was working with, and when they explained to me what the scene was about, it was so funny,†Stan said. “I just thought, You know what, you’ve just got to jump in the water sometimes, right? You’ve just got to take your clothes off and go for it.†So he overcame his initial hesitations about baring all? “No, that’s the thing, I had no hesitation,†he laughed. “I was very happy about it.â€
Stan will soon have to report for duty for Captain America: Civil War, where he’ll be reprising his role as the conflicted Winter Soldier. Has he seen a script yet? “You know, I have, actually, believe it or not!†he said, sounding as surprised as anyone. We wondered whether there’d be much room for his character in a Captain America sequel that adds Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Hawkeye to the mix, and Stan wasn’t willing to allay our fears. “You should figure that one out,†he laughed. “I have no idea.â€