Another batch of new high-resolution set photos from the set of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* have surfaced online, finally revealing Sebastian Stan’s updated appearance as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier.
Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes is now back to flaunting long hair paired with a goatee—a subtle yet noticeable transformation since he had short hair for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Also seen is a crew member holding a glove, a key piece of Bucky’s Wakandan cybernetic arm. Check it out courtesy of Sebastian Stan Brazil.
This new costume upgrade allows Stan to wear suits like in the picture above, which means he doesn’t have to wear the full cybernetic arm, a change we imagine he appreciates.
According to rumors online, Bucky appears to be involved in a court hearing. This twist in the storyline brings Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s character, CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, into the mix, who was also spotted over the weekend on set. This hints at Bucky possibly having to confront his past crimes, potentially leading him into the hands of Val as a reluctant recruit for her government-backed super squad.
Bucky’s involvement in Thunderbolts* is rumored to be limited. The spotlight seems set to shine on other characters like Val, Yelena Belova, U.S. Agent, The Sentry, and Ghost.
Director Jake Schreier previously teased that Thunderbolts* will explore the shared experiences of its anti-hero ensemble, and will tell a self-contained story accessible to new viewers while building on existing MCU narratives.
“There’s a story to be told about a group of characters who can relate to each other in a certain way or who have gone through certain things and we’re going to get into that. I wouldn’t look at this as a sequel at all. And we don’t talk about it that way,” Schreier said. “There’s a story to be told about a group of characters who can relate to each other in a certain way or who have gone through certain things and we’re going to get into that.”
Obviously, Florence has proved how captivating she can be in the MCU and I think it’s great to have that as a reference point but we’re all talking about making a movie that it’s great if you’ve seen the [previous] stuff but if you haven’t,” Schreier added, “there’s still going to be a complete story being told in a movie that works on its own.”
Thunderbolts* stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Florence Pugh as Yelena Boleva, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent and Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster.
Thunderbolts*, written by Eric Pearson, Lee Sung Jin, and Joanna Calo, and directed by Jake Schreier, is set for a theatrical release on May 2, 2025.
