Sebastian Stan Says Marvel Studios Training Worked For 'I, Tonya'

SEBASTIAN STAN, DAVE BAUTISTA, KAREN GILLAN, POM KLEMENTIEFF, BENEDICT CUMBERCATCH, JOSH BROLIN, KEVIN FEIGE (PRESIDENT, MARVEL STUDIOS), ELIZABETH OLSEN, PAUL BETTANY, DON CHEADLE, ANTHONY MACKIEThere are those scenes in the movie where you and Margot’s character (Tonya) are really beating each other up. Did you feel like you could bring that up to Jeff and ask, “Hey, in the script this …?”

Well, Jeff will tell you that that never happened. Jeff will say that that’s always been misinterpreted and that’s the way that the story was told. Now, for me as an actor, I can’t discriminate there. I can’t really pick a side. I just have to go back to the script. I have to say, “O.K., in the script I have a scene where I look at the camera and say, ‘That never happened.'” And then four minutes later there was a next scene where I’m being very violent so I’ve got to do it. That’s what was in the script. But again, you’ve got Jeff’s story, you’ve got Tanya’s story and it’s a merger of the two.

I’m guessing those scenes are choreographed, but is there nervousness in doing them to make sure someone doesn’t get hurt? Since it’s a small movie and it might just be one take?

No, it’s very rehearsed, for sure. And for me it was basically like looking at it like any stunt, fight sequence in Marvel.

Right.

They were actually making fun of me all the time. They were like, “Oh, there’s that Marvel training You really put pushed her head in that mirror really well.”

It’s not like Margot hasn’t done any of this herself either.

Yeah, I know. It was very funny actually. It’s DC and Marvel. But yeah, you’re so careful. You’re so careful and with her, of course, I was looking at her and going, “Margot, you have to tell me. When we, do we have a safe word? What do we do?” And beforehand you’re kind of in this little pow-wow which is what all the stunt guys do on Marvel movies. I love when they do it. They just get them piled up, they look at each other and they’re like, “O.K., we’re in this together now!” You’re like, “O.K., I got you! I got you!” And it’s weird. You have to just let go. It’s almost that thing where they say why sometimes old people don’t get as injured when they fall because they bodies are loose. So, it’s the same thing. You can’t go into it tense. You’ve got to just let it go after a while. You rehearse different speeds. You start out very slowly and you build up the speed more and more.

I’ve got to ask you about “Avengers: Infinity War.” I’m guessing you’ve finished shooting that?

That’s done, yes.

Do you know what you’re doing next?

I know I’m going back there now in October, supposedly continuing the war. I have no idea. I haven’t read the script.

Oh, for the second “Avengers” movie.

Yeah.

Have you had any break at all?

Yeah, I had the summer. So I had July, August and I had September off.

And then you go back and do the second part.

And then I go back.

When is your, “Oh wow, I can do something else” time?

I don’t know. Maybe next year. There’s a movie here in Toronto we’re trying to do next year which is really cool. It’s insane. It’s like “The Game” meets “Song.” It’s just a crazy movie. So, hopeful that will be here in Toronto. I don’t know.

“I, Tonya” is currently looking for distribution.