Benedict Cumberbatch Says ‘Horrific Diet’ For ‘Doctor Strange’ Marvel Role Could ‘Feed a Family’

Benedict Cumberbatch got candid when it came to his exercise routine and “horrific diet” to prepare for his reoccurring role as Marvel’s Doctor Strange.

“For me, the exercise is great,” Cumberbatch, 49, shared during a Tuesday, July 22, episode of the “Ruthie’s Table 4” podcast. “And the end result is that you feel strong and you feel confident — you hold yourself better. You have stamina through the exercise and the food that makes you last through the gig.”

The actor, who has played Dr. Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since 2016, says even though the exercise and extra food made him feel good at the end of the day, it’s not his favorite thing.

“But it is horrific. I don’t like it personally,” he explained. “I think it’s horrific eating beyond your appetite. Again, 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.”

Cumberbatch went on to say that every time he is preparing for each Marvel movie he has to eat five meals a day on top of “a couple of boiled eggs between those five meals, or some kind of high protein snack, cheese and crackers or almond butter and crackers — crackers, lots of crackers.”

Although it’s a struggle to exercise and eat such a significant amount of protein, ultimately, Cumberbatch noted that filming the projects is “great fun” and he loves it.

“I love it. I love body transformation in my job,” he said. “On Marvel, it’s a big sand pit. So they’ve got resources. You have someone who can prescribe you what you’re eating, and they can cook [for] you. We had a fantastic chef on the last Doctor Strange film.”

Cumberbatch has appeared as neurosurgeon Stephen Strange in several Marvel films including 2016’s Doctor Strange, 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home and 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Nearly four years after appearing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Cumberbatch is set to reprise his role in Avengers: Doomsday, which will hit theaters in December 2026. The sequel was also include Chris Hemsworth, Sebastian Stan, Antony Mackie, Vanessa Kirby, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Robert Downey Jr., Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Florence Pugh, Kelsey Grammer, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Allan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Channing Tatum and Pedro Pascal.

Recently, Marvel boss Kevin Feige gave an update on the status of Avengers: Doomsday, noting that they are still finalizing the script even though they are in the process of filming.

“There’s plus-ing happening every day on the Avengers: Doomsday set right now, and it is amazing to watch because what those filmmakers, those actors, both the ones that are playing these characters for the first or second time and the ones playing them for the 10th or 12th time, are the best in the world at it, and know these characters so well,” Feige, 52, said at a press event on Sunday, July 20, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Feige went on to say if the actors “have an idea,” they want to “listen to it” and “adjust to it.”

“I wouldn’t want to change that,” he added.