Benedict Cumberbatch Looks Back on 'Zoolander 2' Role: 'It Backfired a Little Bit'

Benedict Cumberbatch is opening up about his role in Zoolander 2.

The 45-year-old actor stepped into the part, which was of a non-binary fashion model named All, which set off a number of petitions to boycott the movie, and even one that wanted the role re-cast – something which Benedict agrees with today.

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Speaking with Penelope Cruz in Variety’s Actors on Actors series, Benedict admitted that he would not be in consideration for the role, nor would he go out for it.

“There was a lot of contention around the role, understandably now,” he said. “I think in this era, my role would never be performed by anybody other than a trans actor.”

Benedict added that at the time, he wasn’t “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.”

Penelope and Benedict starred together in the film, which also included Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.

Previously, Benedict has opened up about taking over roles that are in the LGBTQ+ community – including his most recent one in The Power of the Dog. See what he said here…