Why Sebastian Stan Was 'Freaked Out' Going Into The Falcon And The Winter Soldier

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is just days away from its big Disney+ premiere, and fans can't wait to see what's to come with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan).

The last we saw of the two characters was their attendance at Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) funeral in Avengers: Endgame, as well as shortly after when they watch Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) begin his quest to return the Infinity Stones near the Avengers Compound. Bucky wishes his friend a fond farewell, knowing he will not be coming back. Sam only realizes that Steve has a different plan after he sees an elderly Cap sitting nearby. The older Cap gives Sam his shield to carry on his legacy.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will cover the events that happen immediately after this, giving fans insight into how the men are moving on from losing their young friend and how they live life after the blip.

Sam has always been the same man since we first met him in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but Bucky has been on quite the roller coaster ride during his MCU tenure as he navigated two very different personalities and lifestyles. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will show Bucky in a new light, in a way fans have never seen him before, and it was something that really "freaked out" Stan ahead of filming.

In a digital press event for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, for which Looper was present, Sebastian Stan admitted that he was "freaked out" about exploring a new side to a character that he has played for 10 years. First appearing in Captain America: The First Avenger, Bucky was the strong, kind-hearted best friend of Steve Rogers before he turned into a rogue (and ripped) assassin in Captain America: Winter Soldier.

We saw Stan go back and forth between the two personalities in Captain America: Civil War before he landed back on his feet in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In the latter two films, fans mostly saw Bucky battle against the looming threats with little to no character development. But that's all going to change in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

"I was pretty freaked out," Stan recalled. "Because again, I felt like we had established the character a certain way and there were certain things about him that I knew and I was very comfortable and familiar with tonally, in the movies. And then we had to kind of go into this and go 'Alright, well what is [Bucky] like now?'"

Stan went on to explain that bringing in Bucky's sense of humor was a big part of the new series and something that helped set the tone.

"It was scary and exciting," he continued.

Bucky will be on a quest for a new identity, Stan also noted, which includes taking responsibility for what he's done in his past. The ideals he lived by in the past no longer work well for the world that he is currently living in, meaning Bucky will be making a serious 180 in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.