Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange transformation was not just cinematic but rigorous and physical. Cumberbatch solidified his status as the Sorcerer Supreme, navigating tough behind-the-scenes challenges. Before donning his famous red cape, he had already become a household name portraying cerebral characters such as Sherlock Holmes and Alan Turing. But Strange required him to intertwine intellect and physicality. In the cauldron of superhero training, actors gladly indent their bodies to achieve the comic book look, but Cumberbatch questioned the true cost of such ritualistic endeavors Hollywood mandated.

What do these rituals ask of the planet, and what does it say about the exploits of the cinema industry? Is Cumberbatch's adventure with Doctor Strange a clash of art and morality? 

Benedict Cumberbatch pushed himself into rigorous training and dietary regimes under Marvel's visual demands, later questioning the ethical and environmental cost of such preparation. Appearing on Ruthie’s Table 4, Cumberbatch said he was asked to consume five meals daily, alongside protein snacks such as boiled eggs, almond butter crackers, and cheese in a dauntingly large amount. He said, "I think it's horrific eating beyond your appetite." Reflecting on sustainability, he slammed Hollywood for being "a grossly wasteful industry." 

Cumberbatch appreciated the physical training for his role, which improved his agility and stamina, but criticized how the movie industry dictates strict caloric consumption. He pointed out the unsustainable aspects of filmmaking, such as housing, transportation, energy use, and unrecycled set builds, emphasizing broader systemic waste beyond individual choices. Meanwhile, Cumberbatch is not the only Marvel star who questioned these odd dietary rituals.

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Inside every visually stunning superhero suit lies the actor's struggle to maintain an unrealistic load of muscles, with or without individual readiness.  

Several Marvel actors have also reported their challenging diets time and again. In a 2023 episode of the Off Menu podcast, Ant-Man star Paul Rudd, who will return as a part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, revealed that he had a restrictive diet, occasionally indulging in sparkling water, which he found horrible. Danny Ramirez, who plays Falcon in Captain America: Brave New World, mentioned to Men's Health that his intense training regimen left his dinners bland. And how can one forget Hugh Jackman's notorious 6,000-calorie diet for Wolverine?  

Appearing on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon in 2024, Jackman lamented over his ruthless chicken and beans diet to achieve the shredded mutant look. Despite the differences in nature and portion of these superhero diets, the toll it takes on the actors and the planet remains uniform. And Benedict Cumberbatch's recent reflections on Hollywood's overconsumption raise critical questions regarding the industry's indomitable hunger for spectacle at the cost of sustainability. 

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What do you think about Benedict Cumberbatch's insane diet? Should Hollywood studios rethink their approach to physical transformations of the actors? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.