Sebastian Stan Reveals Marvel Kept ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Cast Working Without Full Script

Marvel Studios has cultivated a culture of secrecy, training fans to expect vague responses from cast members regarding plot details. However, the level of confidentiality surrounding ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ seems to have reached new heights.

Sebastian Stan, who has portrayed Bucky Barnes for over fifteen years across eleven Marvel projects, has been asked numerous questions about the upcoming crossover event this year, yet he has little insight to share. This isn’t due to careful spoiler management; rather, he simply hasn’t been given the information.

In an interview with French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, Stan explained that the reason for his lack of details goes beyond typical studio caution. He revealed that he was never provided with a complete script during filming.

“Honestly, I have absolutely no idea because we didn’t even have a script,” Stan said, according to GamesRadar+. “We didn’t have a script. We were just shooting scattered scenes. It’s a different way of working, continuous, constantly evolving.”

Stan elaborated on the chaotic production process, explaining that Marvel’s choice to withhold the full screenplay was intentional, aimed at preventing actors from accidentally revealing plot details during press interactions.

“The producers didn’t want us to read it in its entirety, to avoid journalists asking us questions,” Stan continued. “I’ve been following this rule for fifteen years, I’m used to it.”

This level of secrecy aligns with other reports from the production. It has been suggested that Marvel circulated around fifty different versions of the script among the cast, a strategy that could explain the conflicting or vague responses from actors when questioned about the plot.

Other cast members have expressed similar confusion. Alan Cumming, who plays Nightcrawler in the film, described the production as “superhero soup” due to the vast number of characters involved, noting that reading the scripts was challenging since many characters had multiple names. He also mentioned that certain characters were assigned secret code names to prevent surprise cameos from leaking before the release.

This isn’t the first time Stan has navigated a Marvel production without complete information. He previously discussed facing similar uncertainty while filming ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ where he experienced genuine confusion about his character’s arc due to restricted access to material.

Stan’s history suggests he has grown accustomed to Marvel’s unconventional workflow over the years, even as the secrecy surrounding ‘Doomsday’ appears to have intensified compared to past projects. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has referred to this ongoing script development process as part of the studio’s creative approach, describing continuous rewrites during filming as “plus-ing” the material as production progresses.

In the same interview that discussed ‘Doomsday’s’ secretive production, Stan confirmed another significant role outside the Marvel universe. He revealed he will join Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman: Part II’ as Harvey Dent, marking his first major venture into DC territory while still managing his long-standing Marvel commitments.

“I also can’t say anything about The Batman: Part II, by Matt Reeves, where I play Harvey Dent,” Stan added, maintaining the same tight-lipped approach that has characterized much of his press circuit this year.

With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ set to release on December 18, Stan’s comments provide a rare glimpse into the unpredictable production process behind Marvel’s biggest crossover event. Given the ongoing mystery surrounding the film’s plot, fans may have to wait for opening night to uncover the answers that Stan himself does not possess.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!