Movies

Benedict Cumberbatch regrets controversy over Zoolander 2 role

BBG News

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch has expressed remorse about the uproar connected with his part in “Zoolander 2”.

Back in 2016, I found myself thoroughly entertained by the comedy sequel that took aim at the fashion world. This time around, Benedict Cumberbatch, star of Sherlock and Doctor Strange, graced our screens as All, a bold non-binary model character. However, the announcement of his casting sparked quite a stir, with one high-profile petition even comparing it to the modern version of blackface.

In a new video for Variety, Cumberbatch opened up about the role.

He mentioned, “I’ve found myself apologizing for it quite often. It’s tricky to discuss, but here goes. I hold a deep affection for this particular group, as they offered me an opportunity to be involved in something truly legendary – something I had admired greatly during my initial encounter.

However, things became confusing and misinterpreted, causing hurt feelings. I acknowledge this, so I would likely avoid repeating such actions in the future as I value everyone’s feelings.

On a previous occasion, Cumberbatch has discussed the response to his portrayal of All. In 2022, during the ‘Actors on Actors’ series with Variety, he expressed: “I believe in today’s time, such a role could only be played by a transgender actor.

However, at that moment, I didn’t specifically consider its implications, focusing instead on the dinosaur characters themselves, which seemed to embody outdated stereotypes struggling to adapt in a more inclusive and diverse environment. Yet, it didn’t quite go as planned.

The second installment of “Zoolander,” titled Zoolander 2, garnered unfavorable critic responses and disappointing sales figures, earning only $57 million globally against a production budget of $50 million.

Ben Stiller, who played the lead role in the movie that didn’t quite catch fire at the box office, suggested it could have been beneficial for him instead.

If ‘Zoolander 2’ had been incredibly successful, there would have likely been calls for a third installment, as expressed by him to Esquire in 2022: ‘Make this movie! That movie!’

Perhaps I found myself drawn away towards other alluring possibilities, yet surprisingly, this led me to an avenue that allowed me to finally accomplish something I’ve longed to do for decades – simply direct a project!

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2025-02-05 21:19

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