Yahoo Movies Benedict Cumberbatch wouldn't play Zoolander 2 character today
Benedict Cumberbatch wouldn't accept his non-binary Zoolander 2 role in today's landscape.
Named All, this androgynous fashion model brushes shoulders with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson's beloved Derek Zoolander and Hansel McDonald, with the pair euphemistically questioning whether they have "a hot dog or a bun".
At the time of the comedy sequel's release, such was the backlash to Cumberbatch's casting that a petition was created in the hope of an audience boycott.
Related: Benedict Cumberbatch lands next lead role in new Netflix movie
Joining fellow Zoolander 2 cast member Penélope Cruz for Variety's 'Actors on Actors' series recently, Cumberbatch himself addressed the controversy.
"There was a lot of contention around the role, understandably now. And I think in this era, my role would never be performed by anybody other than a trans actor," he stated.
"But I remember at the time not thinking of it necessarily in that regard, and it being more about two dinosaurs, two heteronormative clichés not understanding this new diverse world. But it backfired a little bit. But it was lovely to meet you in that brief moment and to work with Ben [Stiller] and Owen [Wilson]."
Cruz, who played Interpol agent Valentina Valencia, went on to describe his performance as "funny".
Related: Those Zoolander 2 celebrity cameos: The good, the bad and the Willie
In other news, the breakout Sherlock star is currently one of the front-runners to win this year's Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of tormentor-cum-rancher Phil Burbank in Netflix's The Power of the Dog.
"The Power of the Dog is a whodunnit – a la Rear Window – in which the 'it' is an ongoing fever dream set against the bleak backdrop of the shapeshifting mountains. It is startling and unsettling, deeply moving and a bit frightening: everything you could possibly want," wrote Digital Spy in our review last month.
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