Benedict Cumberbatch slams Marvel diet and wasteful film sets: ‘I could feed a family'

Express Tribune

22-07-2025

Benedict Cumberbatch has criticised the film industry's excesses, revealing shocking behind-the-scenes details of his Marvel diet while labelling Hollywood as 'grossly wasteful'. In a candid appearance on Ruthie's Table 4, the actor admitted the food intake required for his role as Doctor Strange left him feeling deeply uncomfortable.
'I think it's horrific eating beyond your appetite,' Cumberbatch said. 'I could feed a family with the amount I'm eating.' His superhero diet involved five meals a day, with constant snacking in between, boiled eggs, almond butter crackers, and cheese among the required staples. A chef supervised his nutrition regimen, tailored to keep him in peak shape for the role, but Cumberbatch now sees it as a symbol of broader problems in the entertainment world.
'It's a grossly wasteful industry,' he continued. 'Think about set builds that aren't recycled, think about transport, think about food, think about housing, but also light and energy.' He acknowledged the criticism often aimed at celebrities who advocate sustainability while working in industries built on excess. 'There's always a level of hypocrisy,' he admitted, but said he's trying to make small changes as a producer through his company SunnyMarch.
Even seemingly minor actions matter, he said, like having a 'gentlemanly discussion' about removing single-use plastics from film sets. '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 isn't currently slated to appear in the next Avengers film and seems to be re-evaluating his role in the industry. His remarks have sparked strong reactions online, with some applauding his honesty and others calling for him to walk away from blockbuster projects entirely if he's serious about reform.