Word choice can change everything. While promoting A Different Man, a reporter called Sebastian Stan’s character a “beast.” The film that follows the life of a disfigured man was not something that the Marvel star thought should be described in that way. He politely corrected the journalist and delved into the heavy themes the drama tackles.
The film follows Edward, who goes under facial reconstructive surgery. The first part of the film sees the lead under heavy makeup and prosthetics that radically change his features before going back to his normal look. Edward then becomes obsessed with an actor portraying his former life in a play.
Sebastian Stan Corrects Reporter Aftering Calling His Edward a ‘Beast’
At a press conference at the Berlin Film Festival (via Variety), the Pam & Tommy actor was asked, “What do you think happens after the transformation from this so-called beast, as they call him, to this perfect man?” The question was not received well as the actor kept his cool to point out that he had a problem with “the choice of words.” For him, “the film is important is because we often don’t have the right vocabulary.”
I think it’s a little bit more complex than that, and obviously there are language barriers, but you know, ‘beast’ isn’t the word. And I think, ultimately, it’s just interesting to hear this word because I think that’s one of the things the film is saying — we have these preconceived ideas and we’re not really educated on how to understand this experience in particular.
Sebastian Stan at the Berlin Film Festival
That complex area to navigate about having the vocabulary for people’s experiences is “one of the things” that Sebastian Stan was attracted to doing A Different Man and ultimately fell in love with it. He said his character is “offering you a way to look at it.” When watching, “if you can have the same objective point of view,” then “maybe you can kind of pick apart the initial instincts that you have, and maybe those aren’t always the right ones.”
A Different Man continues a path paved by Sebastian Stan as he tries to obtain different roles beyond his character in the MCU, who he has become synonymous with. In recent years, he has stretched his acting abilities with Flesh, Pam & Tommy, and Dumb Money. He will reprise his role as Bucky Barnes with Thunderbolts.
The film was written and directed by Aaron Schimberg. It also stars Miles G. Jackson, Neal Davidson, Patrick Wang, and Renate Reinsve.
