When it comes to making movies, Marvel Studios like to plan ahead. After all, when you have a number of franchises comprising a shared cinematic universe, it doesn’t just happen overnight. That’s why when they bring on people to play major roles in their films, they sign them to multiple-feature deals. It’s pretty well known that Marvel does this. In fact, these deals are often the topic of conversation in the media. For example, it was a big deal when Robert Downey Jr. re-signed for two more sequels to ‘The Avengers’ and recently Thomas Kretshmann, who will play Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker in ‘The Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (and possibly before that too), discussed his deal during an interview. Now, another major player in Phase Two reveals some details about how long Marvel has him signed up for.

While speaking with Newsarama about his appearance in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, Sebastian Stan talked about the evolution of his character from one film to the next and the differences from the comic book version of Bucky, who is depicted as a peer of Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe rather than a teenager. In addition to that talk, the actor revealed that despite not knowing if and when he’ll come back again on the big screen for Marvel, he has some pretty “great job security” because he signed on for nine movies with the company including the upcoming Sentinel of Liberty sequel.

Bucky Barnes as Captain America

To put that number in perspective, Samuel L. Jackson initially signed on to play Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury for nine movies. That’s a character that can crossover between franchises like ‘Iron Man’, ‘Thor’, and ‘The Avengers’ if he needed to. Now, the Star Spangled Avenger himself Chris Evans recently stated in an interview with Collider that he’s only set for six movies. Why would Stan be signed on for three more movies than the star of the Captain America franchise? I have a few theories on this.

As far as I know, it isn’t public knowledge as to what constitutes as a “picture” under their deal. Maybe at one point Marvel Studios was planning a One-Shot featuring Bucky and they wanted to make sure that they had him for it. Another option is that maybe they were thinking about taking the television route before ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ became a thing and they wanted him to appear in an episode like Jamie Alexander did this week. And finally, my favorite theory: Marvel is planning on adapting the ‘Death of Captain America’ storyline and Bucky will take over the mantle from Steve for a movie or so. Chances of a ‘Civil War’ movie may be slim right now considering that other studios own some key players, but they could totally make adjustments to Ed Brubaker’s amazing story that saw Cap get assassinated. Another fact that might back up this last theory is that Frank Grillo is also signed for multiple pictures. His character Crossbones is one of the shooters who take out Captain America in that story, so that option seems like the most viable theory at the moment.

What do you think about Sebastian Stan signing on for nine movies with Marvel Studios? What other films besides ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ do you think he will appear in? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments below.

‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ starring Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, and Emily VanCamp hits theaters on April 4, 2014.