'Zoolander 2' Star Will Ferrell Addresses Criticism Over Benedict Cumberbatch's Character

Will Defends Controversial 'Zoolander 2' Joke

Will Ferrell has responded to criticism over Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Zoolander 2’ character, defending the ‘Sherlock’ star’s on-screen alter-ego All.

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The controversy began when the first trailer - which you can see above - was released in November, but the film’s creators came under fire for a joke Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson make about Benedict’s gender-ambiguous character.

Will Ferrell

Now, Will, who stars as fashion designer Mugatu, has shared his thoughts on the matter.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, he explained: "I think we are making fun of a bunch of different things.

"In terms of reading the script, [as part of] the world that the movie is established."

“I guess there's some controversy,” he admitted. "[But] to me, I don't feel like it was over egregious.

“But I haven't seen the final movie, so can't really comment."

Benedict in the 'Zoolander 2' trailer

In the trailer, Derek Zoolander asks All: “Are you a male or female model?”

The character then replies that “All is all”, to which Owen Wilson, who plays Hans, counters: “I think he’s asking do you have a hotdog or a bun?”

“By hiring a [cisgender] actor to play a non-binary individual in a clearly negative way, they film endorses harmful and dangerous perceptions of the queer community at large.”

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