Benedict Cumberbatch Calls Out Marvel Productions: “It’s a Grossly Wasteful Industry”

Benedict Cumberbatch isn’t holding back when it comes to talking about how wasteful the film industry can be, especially when making big superhero movies. On a recent episode of Ruthie’s Table 4, the podcast hosted by chef Ruth Rogers, he shared just how extreme things got while preparing to play Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

During the conversation, Cumberbatch revealed that he had to follow a very strict, high-calorie diet to stay in superhero shape.

He said the whole thing was managed by a personal chef and involved way more food than he was used to. “I think it’s horrific eating beyond your appetite,” he said. “Going back to responsibility and resourcefulness and sustainability, it’s just like, ‘What am I doing? I could feed a family with the amount I’m eating.’”

He explained that during filming, he was eating five full meals a day and snacking on things like boiled eggs, almond butter crackers, and cheese in between. The idea was to keep his energy up and build muscle, but to him, it felt excessive.

And it’s not just the food that bothered him. Cumberbatch pointed out that waste is everywhere on movie sets. “It’s a grossly wasteful industry,” he said. “Think about set builds that aren’t recycled, think about transport, think about food, think about housing but also light and energy.”

He knows that people often accuse actors of being hypocrites when they speak out about sustainability, especially when the film industry is known for being over-the-top. Still, Cumberbatch said he tries to push for better practices through his work as a producer at his company, SunnyMarch.

He gave a simple example of something that can make a difference: “You don’t have to give the crew plastic bottles. If you’re in the middle of a desert and you can’t get glass bottles there, fair enough. But we’re in 21st Century.”

Cumberbatch is not the only superhero actor who’s talked about this. These extreme diets and workout routines have become pretty normal for actors in big-budget superhero films.

Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor, has spoken about having to eat every two to three hours to keep up with the demands of his role, including waking up at night just to drink protein shakes. Kumail Nanjiani went through a major body transformation for Eternals and shared how strict and tiring his food and workout plans were.

Hugh Jackman, famous for playing Wolverine, followed high-protein diets and even dehydrated himself before shirtless scenes to get that lean, shredded look.

All these actors go through major lifestyle changes just to fit a certain image, and it raises the question: is it really worth it? The pressure to look a certain way on screen comes with personal and environmental costs.

Right now, Cumberbatch isn’t expected to return as Doctor Strange in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, but his recent comments have definitely gotten people talking. Whether he’s wearing the cape or not, it sounds like he’s more interested in keeping things real, and green.

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