Sebastian Stan is back on the big screen in excellent new thriller A Different Man and fitting of that title, it turned out to be a different kind of filming experience for him.
Written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, the movie sees Stan play aspiring actor Edward who undergoes a medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But this turns into a nightmare when he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what he lost.
Talking to Digital Spy to mark the UK release today (October 4) of A Different Man, Stan noted that every movie requires something different, but this movie saw him have to completely change his approach.
Related: First trailer for Sebastian Stan's new movie
"I try to stay flexible as much as possible, but I feel I've done [enough] to know some things that work for me, and then I try and repeat that in terms of approaching it, but it's always different. This was such a unique, completely different experience," he recalled.
"A lot of this, because the script was so specific and the way we were shooting it, all these long takes and on film, it really was about us being as prepared as possible. Almost like a piece of music, everything had to go and connect so we would get it right."
What to Read Next
Stan's character Edward lives with neurofibromatosis which is why he undergoes the surgery. Since A Different Man shows his life before the surgery though, Stan wore prosthetics and walked around New York with them on.
The experience changed both the way he approached the role and also understand the character more.
Related: Sebastian Stan hits back at Marvel criticism
"I mean, anytime, even if it's a costume, I think it affects you. It changes your persona," he explained. "There's actually great freedom in that when you're no longer really seeing yourself."
He added: "There's nothing out there like the real experience of people who are not in a movie. It was mind-blowing and extremely revealing to experience, because we're in a very ignorant, cruel world, actually.
"People, I keep saying, are not very good liars. Everyone has manners, and they've learned social cues to some extent; some people don't."
A Different Man is out now in UK cinemas.
Mireia (she/her) has been working as a movie and TV journalist for over eight years. Based in the UK, she is a former deputy movies editor at Digital Spy, and previously worked for the Spanish magazine Fotogramas. Mireia's work has been published in other outlets such as Esquire and Elle in Spain, and WeLoveCinema and GamesRadar+ in the UK. She is also a published author, having written the essay Biblioteca Studio Ghibli: Nicky, la aprendiz de bruja about Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service.
During her years as a freelance journalist and film critic, Mireia has covered festivals around the world and has interviewed high-profile talents such as Kristen Stewart, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal and many more. She's also taken part in juries such as the FIPRESCI jury at Venice Film Festival and the short film jury at Kingston International Film Festival in London. LinkedIn
