Sebastian Stan Reveals the Two Roles He’ll Never Forget Losing
Sebastian Stan opens up about two blockbuster auditions that slipped through his fingers, including iconic roles in Star Trek and Green Lantern, and how those near-misses shaped his Hollywood journey.
Life seems pretty sweet for Sebastian Stan these days. With his good looks, charm, and a career that lets him jump between acclaimed dramas and blockbuster superhero flicks, he’s got options most actors only dream about. But even for someone as successful as Stan, the road to stardom wasn’t always smooth. Like every actor hustling in Hollywood, he faced his share of close calls and missed opportunities before landing the roles that would make him a household name.
Almost Captain Kirk: A Sci-Fi Dream Deferred
Stan recently reflected on some of the big parts that got away, including one of the most legendary figures in science fiction.
“Captain Kirk for JJ Abrams was one of the first things that I got very close to,”
he recalled.
“I was really close, and I had a screen test with him at Paramount studios, and my manager had me do a separate photoshoot where I would try and replicate all of these William Shatner pictures.”
Ultimately, the role of young Kirk in Abrams’ Star Trek reboot went to Chris Pine, who would go on to command the Enterprise in three major films. The first movie, simply titled Star Trek, was a massive hit that breathed new life into the franchise and made those classic characters relevant again. Over time, though, the series lost some of its spark, with Pine himself once describing the franchise as “cursed.”
Green Lantern: A Superhero Shot That Slipped Away
Stan’s next near-miss was another high-profile gig.
“Green Lantern was another that I screen tested for,”
he said.
“I remember getting there, and it was like me, Justin Timberlake, Jared Leto, Ryan Reynolds and maybe one other person, and I’m looking at these guys going, ‘I’m fucked! There’s no way this is happening!’”
As it turned out, he was right. The part of Hal Jordan in the big-screen adaptation of Green Lantern went to Ryan Reynolds. But as anyone who’s heard Reynolds talk about the film knows, he didn’t exactly love the experience. The movie’s poor reception nearly derailed Reynolds’ career, and it took years—and a wisecracking antihero in a red suit—to get him back on top.
Finding His Own Path to Stardom
Both franchises ended up being tough rides for their leading men, but Stan didn’t have to wait long for his own breakthrough. After debuting as James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger, it was his starring turn in The Winter Soldier that truly put him on the map. Stan’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, missing out on one opportunity just means something better is waiting around the corner.