‘Fjord’ Star Sebastian Stan Didn’t Set Out to Play Another Conservative After Trump

Two years prior, Sebastian Stan portrayed Donald Trump in "The Apprentice," garnering reactions from fans and earning him a Best Actor Oscar nomination. In his latest film, "Fjord," the actor once again steps into the shoes of a conservative figure, but insists he did not aim to play such divisive, conservative men back-to-back.

In the movie, Stan portrays Mihai Gheorghiu, a conservative Christian who relocates to an isolated Norwegian town with his wife (Renate Reinsve) and five children. The family's strong beliefs draw criticism from the townsfolk, particularly when one of the children has visible bruises, which Mihai admits responsibility for. During a visit to TheWrap's studio at the Toronto International Film Festival, Stan explained that the timing of these movies was serendipitous.

He acknowledged that he has played controversial characters in recent years, but he did not set out to do so specifically. Stan expressed gratitude for being part of these important and timely issues in "Trump's America." Reflecting on the project, he noted that he first became aware of director Cristian Mungiu and his work a decade ago, and they began discussions about collaborating at some point.

"Fjord" was the right project to make their meeting happen, as the actor was in a stage of life where he was thinking about his own relationship with his parents and how he grew up. Being from Romania himself, Stan reflected on how his upbringing still influenced him. The film serves as Romania's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, after winning the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes. Neon will distribute the film in the U.S. later this year.