Benedict Cumberbatch reflects on backlash for playing non-binary model All in Zoolander 2 and current career moves.
Why does Benedict Cumberbatch regret Zoolander 2?
The actor apologized for playing All, a non-binary model in the 2016 comedy, calling it a “difficult” role that “got misunderstood.”
LGBTQ+ activists criticized the character’s portrayal, prompting Cumberbatch to admit he “wouldn’t do that again now” and acknowledge the part should go to trans actors today.
What backlash haunted the film?
When the trailer dropped in 2015, All’s introduction sparked outrage for mocking gender identity. Cumberbatch told Variety he’s had to “apologize quite a lot,” adding, “I upset people… I respect that.”
Director Ben Stiller later admitted the criticism left him questioning his comedic instincts, calling the backlash “blindsiding.”
How does Cumberbatch view the role today?
Despite nostalgic love for the Zoolander cast, he told Penélope Cruz in 2022 there was “a lot of contention” around All.
Reflecting on evolving industry standards, he stressed, “My role would never be performed by anybody other than a trans actor [now].”
His remorse highlights shifting sensitivity toward LGBTQ+ representation.
Did Zoolander 2 affect Ben Stiller’s career?
Yes. Stiller confessed the fallout “affected me for a long time,” telling PEOPLE in 2023 he feared losing touch with humor.
The sequel’s poor reception contrasted sharply with the 2001 original’s cult status, leaving the director grappling with self-doubt.
What’s next for Cumberbatch post-controversy?
He’s pivoted to diverse projects: Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme and Jay Roach’s The Roses.
In 2025, his indie film The Thing with Feathers premiered at Sundance, where he plays a father haunted by grief—and a giant crow—marking a stark departure from past missteps.
Quick Facts About Cumberbatch’s Zoolander 2 Backlash:
- Played controversial non-binary character All in 2016’s Zoolander 2.
- Apologized repeatedly for role criticized as LGBTQ+ insensitivity.
- The admitted part should now go to trans actors in the modern era.
- Director Ben Stiller called backlash “blindsiding” and career-shaking.
- Cumberbatch’s new films include The Phoenician Scheme and Sundance-premiered The Thing with Feathers.