Sebastian Stan is game to play Bucky Barnes as long as Marvel Studios wants him to

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier may have come to an end, but it’s unlikely to be the last time fans see Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in the upcoming phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Anthony Mackie is already slated to star in Captain America 4, and Sebastian Stan has good news for anyone worried that Bucky might finally embrace a well-deserved retirement: He’s happy to continue playing the role as long as Marvel Studios wants him to.

During an appearance on the Just for Variety podcast, Stan revealed that his contract with Marvel doesn’t cover a specific amount of time, as the MCU was relatively new when Captain America: The First Avenger first came out.

“Marvel was very new and young, if you will … so, everybody was in this place, which I think to some extent still is the same place today,” Stan said, “which is a place of excitement, desire, kind of hope for continuation. Possibilities. What ifs. But never kind of jumping the gun too soon.”

Despite no contractual obligations, Stan admitted he’s still game to appear in future MCU projects, though he suggested his own aging could eventually become an obstacle to portraying his character:

"“It’s not up to me. I don’t make these decisions. As long as they’ll keep calling, I’m there. I don’t know. I get old, too. Like everyone in the world, I age! So I don’t know what that means. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything! I have no idea. I’m just going for the ride.”"

Sebastian Stan addresses Bucky’s relationship with Sam

While Bucky’s future in the MCU is uncertain for the time being, there’s no denying that Marvel would be wise to capitalize on the chemistry between Stan and Mackie. Their characters develop a buddy-cop sort of relationship over the course of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and it’d be a shame if Bucky wasn’t there to witness and partake in the rest of Sam’s journey.

Of course, some fans want to see the relationship between the two go beyond friendship and into romantic territory, something many wished for Bucky and Steve Rogers’ Captain America as well. Speaking on Just for Variety, Stan admitted he’s not intentionally playing the role to suggest there’s anything more between the pair, but that he’s glad a potential relationship is being welcomed among fans.

“I’m just happy that the relationship is being embraced,” Stan said. “And it should be embraced in whatever way, fashion, and any way that people desire and want it to be.”

Unfortunately, Disney has a poor track record when it comes to including significant LGBTQ+ representation in its blockbuster films — though that could change with Chloé Zhao’s Eternals this November. Marvel has confirmed the film will showcase its first openly gay couple (and kiss!), though how much focus these characters will be given is currently unknown.

If Marvel Studios does decide to embrace a more diverse lineup of characters in terms of sexuality, it seems like Stan wouldn’t object to Bucky being bisexual. However, fans will probably need to stick to fanfiction for the time being — especially since we don’t know when we’ll see Bucky again or in what context.

Would you like to see more of Bucky Barnes in the MCU? Where would you like to see his character go? Sound off in the comments below.