Last May, a group of fellow reporters and I got to visit the set of Civil War and speak with Evans and Stan. During our conversation, they talked about Bucky’s psychological state and struggling with the guilt over the things he did as the Winter Soldier, putting Steve into a new, difficult position, how both characters dealing with being “men out of time,” and more. Read the full interview below.
Sebastian, the screenwriters mentioned Bucky’s journey as someone who has to wrestle with doing 70 years of doing evil. Can you talk a bit about your character’s journey in this film and how his separation works as opposed to Cap’s just being on ice.
SEBASTIAN STAN: I think it would be similar to what [Cap] went through. Where we find the character is really where he’s at the post-credits scene at the end of Winter Soldier. So that’s where he picks up in this film. It very much is a big struggle, figuring out what his life has been about and what he’s really been up to. That’s what I think the similarity between them is. They’re men out of time, struggling to embrace this new life, and how do they do it.
Can you speak a little more as to where he’s at when we pick up with him? Is he a loner sort of drifting?
EVANS: Risky!
SEBASTIAN STAN: I’ll say this. Whatever notions you had about that post-credits scene where you see him in the museum and obviously he’s staring at himself, whatever ideas you got from that scene, keep thinking about those and go with your own thoughts on that.
Where is Cap when we pick up in this movie?
EVANS: He’s still on the search for Bucky. That’s the thing about these movies. You go do The Avengers, you gotta put your own plot on hiatus for a second, and then we try to pick up where we left off. A big piece of that is searching for Bucky. But at the same time, we left off The Avengers [Age of Ultron] with a new team of Avengers. So they’re still trying to break in the new members. And I think it’s no secret that what happens is there’s a world around them that expects a little bit more responsibility for their actions. The Avengers have been operating independent of any government restriction, so I think there’s plenty of people that makes nervous. I don’t think I’m giving anything away by saying what happens is certain governments expect a bit of a change.
STAN: That’s why it’s kinda cool, since it parallels a lot of the things we’re dealing with now. Thinking about all the recent stuff about the government being able to look into your phone, to see what you’re texting or who you’re calling.
EVANS: Don’t look into my phone. Career over.
STAN: It’s very relevant. That’s where the Russos have been great, because the movie will be relevant to things that are happening today, that you read in the news.
When we met Winter Soldier, he was geared up, he was wrecking shit. Does he get a lot of good action in this film?
STAN: Yes.
In Winter Soldier, there’s been hints that Bucky may have been involved with Tony Stark’s father’s untimely demise, is that something that may cause friction between yourself and Tony?
STAN: I feel like it’s pretty given if you know the comics. He’s in a place where he’s not very stable or healthy environment in his head. So he could easily go either way.
99% of your screentime in Winter Soldier, Bucky’s brainwashed. So this is probably the first time we’re gonna see this character on his own, with his own thoughts. Are you approaching the character differently? Is there more Jim Buchanan now that there’s no brainwashing?
STAN: I’m just trying to tie in to what we know in the comic books. I think it’s going to be a mix of different things. He’s not gonna go back and be the guy he used to be. There’s just no way that would happen. He’s definitely, probably affected for life. It’s sort of learning about how you live with who you are now. Learning how to tame that wild beast that is a part of you at this point.
This is a really big cast. Is there anyone in particular you were looking forward to playing off of, or is there a character you were hoping you’d get to interact with.
STAN: Vision. I really have a soft spot for Vision. I haven’t seen him on set. I have to say, Paul Rudd was pretty difficult for me to work off of.
EVANS: Did you just get in trouble?
STAN: Oh I don’t know. That could be just me walking by at the craft table.
EVANS: I’ve grown to really like my scenes with Scarlett [Johansson]. Something about that relationship, because I don’t think it drifts into a romantic place. I think it’s a place where we each just need somebody. She’s kinda been a loner for a long time and probably avoided friendships for professional purposes. And I had no friends because I was frozen. But I think in Cap 2 there was this opposites attract thing where we kinda found camaraderie, and now it’s like a really nice brother and sister bond. There’s some nice scenes in this one.
Do you feel like this movie wraps up a trilogy for the Cap movies?
EVANS: Probably not. Just given what’s gonna happen in The Avengers films. You can’t really put a stamp on it and then dive into what they’re planning on diving into.
STAN: I’m so glad you know what’s going on. Maybe we should talk a little bit more
You can check out the interview in full over at Collider.com