News that Sebastian Stan might star in The Batman Part 2 has sent superhero fans into meltdown, and triggered a theory that his character will die in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Sebastian Stan has played Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since Captain America: The First Avenger some 15 years ago.
But if one of the first major casting rumors of 2026 is to be believed, he’s now making the move to DC, playing Harvey Dent/Two-Face in The Batman Part 2.
In response, the Internet is putting two-and-two together, and jumping to an almighty conclusion concerning a beloved character’s death…
If Bucky dies in Doomsday, fans are “gonna have a problem”
The logic essentially goes that due to scheduling, Sebastian Stan can’t possibly appear in multiple Marvel and DC movies at the same time, so Bucky will die in Avengers: Doomsday to free the actor up for future Bat-Stan projects.
“Sebastian Stan being in The Batman Part 2 means Bucky is gonna die in Avengers Doomsday,” claims one fan, while another sees the logic, writing: “Sometimes you gotta lose some (Bucky Barnes dying in Doomsday) to win some (Sebastian Stan being in The Batman 2).”
There’s a school of thought that the DC role will give the actor more to do in terms of performance: “Sebastian Stan clocking out for the last time as Bucky who dies saving Steve Rogers and going straight to a superhero movie where he finally gets to act.”
But if DC means death to the Winter Soldier, there’s also a fair amount of frustration and no little anger amongst the Stan stans.
Above a happy-sad meme, one fan writes: “Being excited for Sebastian Stan to join The Batman II but realizing that means Bucky is so dead in Doomsday.”
A second directs their Tweet to Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige, saying: “If Sebastian Stan playing Harvey Dent means Doomsday is his last Marvel movie………………..I swear to god @Kevfeige.”
While a third captures the general mood by posting: “Sebastian Stan I am seated for your performance in The Batman 2 no matter what, however, if this means Bucky dies in Doomsday I’m gonna have a problem.”
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