Sebastian Stan’s Unscripted Thunderbolts* Moment Nearly Cut

Plenty of viewers have already caught Thunderbolts* on Disney+, but the film’s behind-the-scenes tales are only just surfacing. One such story involves a moment that wasn’t even in the script: Hannah John-Kamen’s character, mid-scene, simply didn’t hand back Bucky’s bionic arm to Sebastian Stan. The move was entirely off the cuff, yet so amusing that the filmmakers decided to keep it in. The result? A scene that feels oddly authentic, its humour landing precisely because it wasn’t planned.

Stan’s Reluctance Over a Now-Iconic Gag

While the impromptu arm incident was a happy accident, another comedic bit in Thunderbolts* was far more deliberate. There’s a sequence where Bucky, played by Stan, places his prosthetic arm in a dishwasher—a visual that caught many off guard. This wasn’t a slip-up; director Jake Schreier had it in mind from the outset. Stan, however, wasn’t convinced. In an interview, he admitted he initially wanted the scene axed, finding it illogical and not particularly funny. Schreier, on the other hand, saw potential for a proper laugh, suggesting Stan could be eating at the same time, with food flying everywhere. Stan recalled:

I immediately said to Jake, ‘I don’t understand why this is funny. You do not need this. This is silly ‘But Jake was like, ‘But maybe you could be eating something and then it can just go everywhere.’ And I go, ‘Really? That’s what’s going to [happen]?’

It wasn’t until Stan saw the finished film that he recognised the scene’s comedic value, especially given the Winter Soldier’s typically deadpan persona.

Thunderbolts* and the Return of Subtle MCU Wit

Recent years haven’t been kind to Marvel’s reputation for sharp humour. Fans have grumbled about the tone of the studio’s output, with some films—Thor: Love and Thunder springs to mind—drawing criticism for reducing major characters to little more than punchline machines. The Marvels, too, suffered from jokes that seemed to land at all the wrong moments, contributing to its lacklustre box office performance.

Thunderbolts* didn’t exactly set financial records either, but many put that down to waning interest in the franchise rather than the film’s content. What set it apart, though, was the way its jokes felt organic. The unscripted arm scene is a case in point: the humour emerges naturally, never feeling forced or out of place. Crucially, the film avoids undercutting its more serious moments with misplaced gags, a balance that’s been missing from some recent entries.

Striking the Right Note

Thunderbolts* manages to draw a clear line between its lighter and more sombre moments. The story’s emotional beats are allowed to breathe, while the comedy, when it appears, feels earned rather than obligatory. This approach gives the narrative a sense of weight, making the eventual resolution all the more satisfying.

For those curious, Thunderbolts* is now streaming in the UK. The film, directed by Jake Schreier, features a cast including Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Lewis Pullman, and David Harbour. It’s currently holding a strong score on Rotten Tomatoes and has pulled in a respectable sum at the box office. Which Marvel film do you reckon gets the balance between action and comedy just right?