Sebastian Stan Just Compared His Upcoming Marvel Movie To A Brat Pack Film, And I Did Not See The Reference Coming

The Thunderbolts
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

After only having one release in 2024, the 2025 movie schedule has three upcoming Marvel movies on it. While many may be looking forward to seeing Harrison Ford hulk out or excited to see Pedo Pascal join the MCU, Sebastian Stan just got me hyped for Thunderbolts* by, quite surprisingly, comparing the film to an ‘80s classic, The Breakfast Club.

Following his Golden Globe win, Sebastian Stan spoke to Deadline about his return to the role of Bucky Barnes in this summer’s MCU team-up movie Thunderbolts*. The team has been described as Marvel’s version of the Suicide Squad, as a collection of… the term “heroes” is something of a misnomer, are forced to work together. Stan is very high on the dynamic of the team and compares the different characters, and actors, being forced together, to the misfit teens of John Hughes’ classic comedy. Stan said…

I don’t feel you can compare it to any previous Marvel movie, and that’s because of the group of characters in this film and these actors. I couldn’t have had a better time than I did with David Harbour, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. I mean, every single one of these people are funny, they’re generous, and so I think a lot of that chemistry did make it into the movie, and I’m excited for people to see that. It’s a little bit like The Breakfast Club.

I probably would have never considered comparing Thunderbolts* to The Breakfast Club but hearing the comparison, it makes some sense. In the same way that The Breakfast Club brought together five teens who would have never spoken to each other under normal circumstances, Thunderbolts* is the same way: a team of people who aren’t exactly team players.

And while all Marvel movies have a certain amount of humor. Sebastian Stan makes it sound like Thunderbolts* might be an even funnier entry in the franchise, which is another way it will be like The Breakfast Club. The Thunderbolts* trailer certainly shows that this will be a funny movie. It doesn't look like a straight comedy, but may get closer than any MCU movie before it.

Of course, one way it will be different is that The Breakfast Club didn’t have any exploding cars. Stan continued…

It has its own vibe, and it’s funny, and it’s real, and we did actual real stunts, like when you’re watching a truck blow up, it’s a truck blown up. It’s not CGI. Marvel really wanted this to have its own- there were many things in the movie that were actually done practically, and I think that does go a long way, because people are just smart. I think audiences just, they know.

Honestly, now that I’m thinking about Thunderbolts* as The Breakfast Club with superheroes (and also exploding cars) I’m a lot more interested in it. It sounds like it could be a lot of fun. We’ll find out when the Thunderbolts* release date arrives in May.

Dirk Libbey
Content Producer/Theme Park Beat

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.