Sebastian Stan has confirmed that crossing from Marvel into the DC universe felt nothing like he expected. The actor, forever tied to Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, now stands inside Matt Reeves' Gotham for The Batman Part II. Scarlett Johansson joins him on this unexpected detour, turning two Avengers into fresh faces within a rival comic universe. The pairing has quickly become one of the more curious crossovers Hollywood has produced this year.

While Stan settles into Gotham's shadows, one candid admission reveals exactly how disorienting this leap between comic universes truly became for him.

Sebastian Stan has openly admitted that comic book fame taught him nothing about surviving Gotham. Years spent perfecting Bucky Barnes gave him a false sense of comfort inside superhero storytelling. The Batman Part II stripped that comfort away almost instantly, throwing him into an entirely different rhythm of filmmaking.

"I thought I knew something about the comic book world," said to Entertainment Tonight.

He then added, "Turns out I didn't," emphasizing how unprepared his Marvel years left him for Matt Reeves' darker universe.

Details beyond that admission to Entertainment Tonight painted a clearer picture of just how disorienting this shift became. Reeves welcomed Stan aboard through a social media post referencing a Gotham state of mind, months before filming began. Reports linking him to Harvey Dent shifted repeatedly, with newer claims disputing that casting altogether.

Scarlett Johansson received a similarly playful greeting from Reeves, though her exact role stayed unconfirmed. Such secrecy extended even to the scripts, kept under tight security throughout production.

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As Gotham keeps its secrets locked away, Stan resurfaced elsewhere, stepping into a completely different festival spotlight entirely.

Sebastian Stan stepped away from Gotham long enough to attend the Canadian premiere of Fjord at the Toronto International Film Festival. The screening took place at the Princess of Wales Theatre, with director Cristian Mungiu joining him for the occasion. Fjord follows Mihai, a Romanian engineer played by Stan, alongside his Norwegian wife Lisbet, portrayed by Renate Reinsve. Their story centers on a family caught between religious tradition and child protection authorities after bruises on their child raise alarm.

Fjord arrived in Toronto carrying serious festival credibility after winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes earlier in 2026. The win marked a second top prize for Mungiu, following his earlier triumph with 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. The film also collected the International Critics' Prize and the Ecumenical Jury Prize during its Cannes run. Between Gotham secrecy and Cannes glory, Stan proved that stepping outside familiar territory remains exactly where he thrives.

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What are your thoughts on Sebastian Stan's unexpected leap from Marvel to Gotham? Let us know in the comments.