Sebastian Stan is going meta and slightly Method for his latest role in “A Different Man.” In the film, Stan stars as a struggling actor who was born with a facial disfigurement. However, after undergoing an experimental treatment, he realizes that his life may have been easier as an outsider.
Aaron Schimberg writes and directs the critically acclaimed dramedy that debuted at Sundance 2024 and later screened at New Directors/New Films opening night. Lead star Stan, who additionally executive produces, also won the best actor award at Berlin earlier this year.
The film’s official logline reads: “Aspiring actor Edward (Stan) undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.” Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson co-star.
Stan explained at the New York City premiere that, while he spent less than half of the film under prosthetics, he realized he was treated differently by people in public when donning the makeup. “I had this time, so I would walk down the street, get a coffee. I was too scared to do it alone, like I had to have my friend with me,” Stan said onstage. “I would just see what would happen. And everyone, [in] every single place, was responding to me and not once did someone think that I was an actor. Everyone just believed it.”
Stan continued, “But more importantly was just their reaction and unfortunately getting sort of uncomfortable and just their lack of tools or lack of awareness on how to connect. The impulse was there but then it was just nowhere…”
The film has spawned some controversy over its portrayals of disfigurements. Stan’s co-star Pearson, who has neurofibromatosis, said at Sundance that he encouraged Stan with prosthetics to experience the invasion of personal and emotional space as someone living with a disfigurement. “This was the hook that we gave to Sebastian,” Pearson said at Sundance. “‘You don’t know what it’s like to have a disfigurement, but you do know what it’s like to not have privacy and to have your life constantly invaded. You become public property.’”
“A Different Man” will arrive in theaters on Friday, September 20. Check out the trailer below.
