PARK CITY, UTAH – The Eccles Center at Sundance witnessed the highly-anticipated premiere of “A Different Man,” a compelling exploration of identity and obsession infused with a dark sense of humor. The A24 film, starring Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson, unravels the story of an actor grappling with facial reconstruction surgery and the subsequent realization that a theater role inspired by his life has been handed to another performer.
The Sunday evening screening held the Sundance audience spellbound with its intricate script, featuring unexpected twists and turns. Notably, a provocative and unconventional sex scene left viewers squirming in their seats, accompanied by realistic gore that elicited audible reactions from the captivated audience.
Following the premiere, writer and director Aaron Schimberg, along with stars Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson, took the stage for a post-screening Q&A session to delve into the film’s themes. Pearson, who lives with neurofibromatosis, shared insights into finding common ground with Stan, who undergoes extensive makeup in the film to portray a similar appearance.
Pearson explained, “This was the hook that we gave to Sebastian. ‘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.'”
Stan recounted his experiences wearing prosthetics around New York City to observe how people would react, emphasizing the stark limitations in interactions between extremes—either avoidance or overcompensation. He reflected on a poignant encounter with a little girl, highlighting the honesty and curiosity of children in stark contrast to adult reactions.
“I interacted with people, and it was really interesting,” Stan shared. “It was sort of scary to see how limited the interaction is between two extremes: don’t address it or overcompensation. The only people that were the most honest were kids. I had this interaction with a little girl, and her mom is trying to do the right thing, but in doing the right thing, she actually was preventing the girl from simply having an experience. She was brave and courageous, and that’s kids, right? They just want to know — they don’t have judgment. It was a learning lesson for me.”
Post-screening chatter in the lobby resonated with positivity, with many audience members hailing “A Different Man” as Stan’s standout performance and some declaring it their favorite film of the festival thus far.
As of now, A24 has not disclosed the theatrical release date for “A Different Man,” leaving audiences eager for its wider unveiling.
