Sebastian Stan recently revealed a crucial detail about Bucky Barnes’ arm in theMCU. 2025 will be a good year for the fan-favorite character as he’s set to make his return in May inThunderbolts*. A surprise cameo by Stan inCaptain America: Brave New Worldearlier this year set the stage forBucky’s new life as a congressman, and it’ll be interesting to see how he goes from a life in government to a member of the Thunderbolts team. Recent trailers depict the film in a different tone than past MCU projects, stirring up excitement for the anti-hero group.
Promotions forThunderbolts*have been ramping up as its release date nears, and the cast is currently featured inEmpire’s May issue. Though the focus of the issue is on the upcoming film, one particular quote stands out as Stan reveals a behind-the-scenes fact about Bucky abouthis overall time in the MCU. When asked about Bucky’s cybernetic arm, he says"I’ve never taken the green-sleeve option. It’s like a house of cards, and when you see a little hole there that you can poke through, all the other believability goes out the window."
What Sebastian Stan’s Comments About Bucky’s Arm Being CGI Mean
It’s become somewhat common for big studios like Marvel and DC to opt for CGI superhero suits rather than a practical costume. There are a few logical reasons as to why studios have gone in this direction, as CGI allows for elaborate costume movement that a practical suit wouldn’t, and it’s easier to touch-up in post-production. However, fans overall have a negative reaction to CGI costumes as it’s seen as a lazy way for the studio to cut costs. When the visual effects are rushed, it can make the suit look very obviously cartoonish.
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CGI has evolved tremendously over time, but there are still a number of recent effects in superhero movies that have aren’t up to par.
Stan feels like one with his character thanks to the fact that he’s fully immersed on set.He’s now confirmed that the arm is completely practicaland addressed previous concerns with CGI. He echoes what fans have pointed out in the past, and it shows that he knows what’s best for the character. Stan has only used the green-sleeve option once, which was when he was missing his arm in the fight against Iron Man inCaptain America: Civil War. Stan has proven his dedication to using CGI only when necessary, committing to the practical version of Bucky’s arm.
Our Take On Sebastian Stan’s Comments About Bucky’s Arm Being CGI
Stan’s awareness of why fans would be opposed to CGI costumes is a promising direction for futureMCUprojects. A superhero’s identity is their suit and a big studio like Marvel should go all out in making it look as great as possible. Not only would a practical costume likely look better for the viewer, butit is a more immersive experience for the actors on set as they can truly embody their roles. There’s a certain distance between an actor and their character when they are wearing a mo-cap suit that ultimately affects their performance.
Stan’s comment hits the nail on the head about the biggest issue with CGI costumes. Digitally creating a costume leaves a lot more room for inconsistencies across the board versus an actor using the same practical prop every day.It only takes one inconsistency or poorly done CGI element for the viewer to get taken out of a film completely. When an element is as crucial to a character asBucky Barnes’ armis to him, having the consistency of a practical prop is very reassuring.
