Benedict Cumberbatch might not be a massive name in Hollywood just now, but across the next year or so he’s going to be massive, thanks in no small part to his role as the villain in upcoming sci-fi sequel, Star Trek 2 .
As well as preparing himself for the full beam of the media spotlight, Cumberbatch has also had to bulk up a little in order to boldly go toe-to-toe with Starfleet’s finest…
“I’ve gone up two suit sizes,” he says. “The character I’m playing, he’s strong. I can say that much. I’ve changed my physique a bit, so that requires eating like a foie gras goose, well beyond your appetite.
“Providing I don’t feel too ill,” he continues, “I then work out two hours a day with a phenomenal trainer. It’s the L.A. way.” Meanwhile, co-star Chris Pine has also been talking up the sequel, describing the action as “relentless”.
“Of course I’m gonna tell you I think it’s gonna be better,” says Pine. “You pick up the characters from where they left off, and the development of the characters, I think, is just as exciting as the first one… And it’s relentless. I think that’s the best adjective I can use.”
Star Trek 2 will open in the UK on 17 May 2013