Sebastian Stan Reveals The Hilarious Fan Interactions He Keeps Experiencing
Being a superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings with it a level of fame that not many other acting jobs can provide. Actors like Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. have become international superstars because of their performances as Captain America and Iron Man, respectively, and almost every core or recurring MCU cast member has experienced that same kind of heightened public stardom. Marvel fans aren't afraid of showing off their passion and knowledge of every MCU film and character either, which usually results in some pretty delightful (and occasionally weird) interactions between Marvel stars and their fans.
In fact, it seems like every Marvel actor has interesting stories about fan encounters, and Sebastian Stan is no exception. The actor has been a part of the MCU since his first turn as Bucky Barnes in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, but he is currently receiving his biggest moment in the spotlight yet thanks to the long-awaited release of Marvel's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Stan has been busy promoting the Disney+ series quite a bit over the past several weeks, and during a recent interview, the actor revealed the surprising MCU reference that fans usually make when they meet him in public.
The Winter Soldier reference Sebastian Stan's fans often make
During a recent interview with BBC Radio One, Sebastian Stan revealed that fans will "quite often" recite HYDRA's Winter Soldier code to him when they meet him at "coffee shops" or in various different public places. The code, which was first revealed in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, is a series of seemingly random words that were created by HYDRA to mentally control Bucky and make him follow their orders.
Stan says that whenever fans recite the code to him in public it's always "very funny" and a bit of an "honorable thing," but admitted that sometimes he does, "have to look people in the face and say, 'No, I will not become the Winter Soldier if you say that. You can keep saying it, and maybe you should say it, maybe that's a moment we both need to have together, now, here. But nothing crazy will happen.'" In other words, fans can feel free to say those iconic words to Stan if they want, so long as they don't expect him to actually act out the effect that the words have on Bucky for them .
The Winter Soldier code itself is a well-known bit of MCU lore at this point and is even referenced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 3, when Daniel Brühl's Baron Zemo recites some of the words again during Bucky's visit with him in prison. However, the latest Falcon and Winter Soldier episode also, notably, follows up Zemo's recitation with the reveal that Bucky has finally learned how to ignore the hypnotic power of the words. Just because Bucky has moved past that part of his life doesn't mean Marvel fans will stop referencing the code whenever they see Stan in public though.