You remember the hype. It’s 2016. The world is waiting for Derek Zoolander to save fashion again, but then the trailer drops. Suddenly, everyone isn’t talking about Blue Steel. They’re talking about a eyebrows-free, long-haired model named All.
Benedict Cumberbatch in Zoolander 2 became one of the most polarizing cameos in comedy history before the movie even hit theaters. It wasn't just a "blink and you'll miss it" moment. It was a cultural flashpoint.
The character, a non-binary supermodel simply named "All," was meant to be the biggest star in the fashion world. But for many, the joke didn't land. It felt less like a satire of the industry and more like a punch down. Honestly, the backlash was swift. A petition to boycott the film racked up over 25,000 signatures. People were calling it "the modern equivalent of blackface."
That’s a heavy label for a movie about a guy who can’t turn left.
The Controversy That Wouldn't Die
Why did it hit such a nerve? Well, the scene involves Derek and Hansel meeting All and immediately asking about their genitals. Hansel asks if All has a "hot dog or a bun." It’s classic Zoolander—the characters are famously moronic. But for the LGBTQ+ community, the joke felt outdated.
The argument was simple: why hire a cisgender actor like Benedict Cumberbatch to play a non-binary character? Critics felt that if the movie wanted to talk about the rise of trans models like Andreja Pejić, they should have just hired one.
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Justin Theroux, who co-wrote the script, was pretty shaken by the reaction. He actually said the boycott "hurt his feelings." He argued that the target of the joke wasn't the non-binary community, but rather the "two dinosaurs"—Derek and Hansel—who are too dim to understand a modern, diverse world.
It’s a classic satire defense. You've seen it before with movies like Tropic Thunder. The filmmakers claim they are mocking the bigots, not the victims. But in 2016, that nuance felt lost on a lot of people.
Benedict’s Own Take (Years Later)
Cumberbatch hasn't stayed silent about it. In fact, he’s been surprisingly candid about the mistake. Looking back from 2026, his perspective has shifted significantly.
"I've had to apologize for that quite a lot," he admitted in a recent interview. He acknowledges that "in this era," the role would never go to anyone but a trans actor. He basically admitted it backfired. He wanted to be part of an iconic franchise he loved, but he didn't realize how the portrayal would be perceived by the people it was supposedly "representing."
It's a rare moment of a Hollywood A-lister just flat-out saying, "Yeah, I wouldn't do that again."
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- The Intent: Satirizing the fashion industry's obsession with "the next big thing."
- The Reality: A joke that relied on outdated tropes about non-binary bodies.
- The Result: A commercial and critical flop that Ben Stiller later admitted helped him pivot to directing more serious projects like Severance.
Why the Character "All" Still Matters in Film History
You can’t talk about the evolution of casting without mentioning this role. It serves as a "before and after" marker for Hollywood. Before Zoolander 2, big stars took "transformative" roles like this all the time for awards bait or a laugh. After the backlash, the industry shifted.
The "All" character is a weird time capsule. It shows the exact moment when the "dumb character says something offensive" trope started to lose its safety net. Even if the character saying the line is an idiot, the audience still holds the writers—and the actors—accountable for the imagery they put on screen.
It’s also worth noting how much the fashion industry itself changed. While the movie was trying to mock the "androgyny trend," the real fashion world was moving toward actual inclusion. Real non-binary and trans models were becoming the face of brands, not because they were a "joke," but because they were talented. The movie felt like it was playing catch-up with a world it didn't quite understand.
What Really Happened on Set?
Despite the firestorm, the actual filming in Rome was typical high-fashion parody. Cumberbatch went all-in on the look. We’re talking no eyebrows, a waist-length straight wig, and a demeanor that was cold as ice. He played it straight. That’s usually his brand—total commitment.
Penélope Cruz, who was also in the sequel, defended him at the time, saying she thought his performance was "funny." But the box office didn't agree. The movie made roughly $56 million on a $50 million budget. In Hollywood terms? That’s a disaster.
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The public had moved on from the 2001 humor of the original. What was "edgy" then felt "cringe" in 2016.
Actionable Insights for Content Consumers
If you’re looking back at movies from the mid-2010s, it’s helpful to view them through the lens of the "Transition Era." This was when social media started to have a real, measurable impact on how studios cast their films.
- Watch the context: If you ever re-watch the scene, look at the framing. Is the camera laughing with All or at All? The answer usually dictates whether a joke ages well.
- Follow the actor's growth: Benedict Cumberbatch’s willingness to own the mistake is a blueprint for how actors can handle past controversies without being "canceled." It’s about education, not just PR.
- Support authentic casting: If you want to see non-binary stories done right, look for projects where those individuals are in the writers' room, not just in front of the camera as a punchline.
Ultimately, the story of Benedict Cumberbatch in Zoolander 2 isn't just about a bad wig. It's about a shift in what we find funny and who gets to be the one telling the joke.
Research the current casting standards for SAG-AFTRA to see how much has changed since 2016. Look into the "Nothing About Us Without Us" movement in film to understand why roles like "All" are now handled with much more care and consultation.