Call to boycott 'transphobic' Zoolander 2 film

A petition to boycott the upcoming film Zoolander 2 has received over 8000 signatures.

In the sequel the hugely successful 2001 Zoolander film, Models Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and Hansel (Owen Wilson) must stop a conspiracy to kill the world's most beautiful people.

But it is the portrayal of a transgender character that has caused offence.

The petition, created by Sarah Rose on The Petition Site argues Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of a transgender character in the film is offensive and transphobic.

In the trailer for Zoolander 2, Cumberbatch's androgynous character All is asked by Zoolander whether they're a "male model or female model" to which Cumberbatch replies "All is All."

Hansel then jokes "I think what he's asking is do you have a hotdog or a bun?"

"Cumberbatch's character is clearly portrayed as an over-the-top cartoonish mockery of androgyne/trans/non-binary individuals," the petition reads.

"This is the modern equivalent of using blackface to represent a minority."

Rose argues the film's producers could've approached androgynous models such as Australian model Andreja Pejic to play the role.

"By hiring a cis actor to play a non-binary individual in a clearly negative way, they (sic) film endorses harmful and dangerous perceptions of the queer community at large."

- AAP