Fans upset as Paul Rudd claims his sole reward was sparkling water while dieting for 'Ant-Man': 'They tortured him'

Paul Rudd revealed his 'horrible' diet for 'Ant-Man', which had only 'sparkling water' as a reward
PUBLISHED NOV 25, 2023
Paul Rudd reveals he followed a strict diet to transform his body for his role in 'Ant-Man' (Marvel Studios)
Paul Rudd reveals he followed a strict diet to transform his body for his role in 'Ant-Man' (Marvel Studios)

RHINEBECK, NEWYORK: Paul Rudd has revealed his rigorous diet while filming Marvel Cinematic Universe's 'Ant-Man'.

During the 'Off Menu' food podcast with Ed Gamble and James Acaster, the 54-year-old actor revealed his dislike for the "horrible" and "restrictive" diet he followed to transform into Ant-Man.

In the podcast released on November 22, he mentioned that his sole reward was "sparkling water."

The actor joined the MCU in 2015 as Ant-Man, Scott Lang's alter ego. He recently reprised his role in 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania', which was released in February.

Paul Rudd as Ant-Man in 'Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania' (Marvel Entertainment video screenshot/YouTube)
Paul Rudd as Ant-Man in 'Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania' (Marvel Entertainment video screenshot/YouTube)

Paul Rudd got habitual to the grueling diet for 'Ant-man'

Speaking on the food podcast, the 'Clueless' actor shared his unique experience.

"When I was having to train for the Ant-Man movie, and I was on a very restrictive diet, my reward was sparkling water. That's how horrible that diet was. I was like, 'Alright, I can have some sparkling water now, I've earned it," he revealed.

When asked if the sparkling water felt like a treat, Rudd answered, "Yeah, it was great. It wasn't flavoured, I wasn't gonna go crazy... I kind of did it for all of [the Ant-man movies]."

The actor recalled he eventually got accustomed to the diet and said, "Once you're in it, it's actually not too hard." 

"I'm ok with having really boring food over and over again. Because I would eat very similar things. But it wasn't too hard. You get into the groove of it and you wake up with tonnes of energy," he added.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Paul Rudd attends
Paul Rudd recalled that he eventually got accustomed to the rigorous diet (Getty Images)

Rudd also recounted that the other MCU actors looked better than him despite his diet and hard work.

"I worked out harder than anyone, I would eat better than everyone, and I looked worse than all of them," Rudd quipped. "I had to work out all the time, eat perfectly, just to look kind of bad. Not even great."

Rudd's upcoming film, 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,' is scheduled for release on March 29, 2024.



 

Internet asks what was the need for such a 'horrible' diet

Netizens are disappointed with the makers for making Rudd follow the "restrictive" diet when he was in his suit most of the time.

One user said, "They tortured him and gave him such a bad film."



 

Another user asked, "He's literally in the suit the whole time how is that even necessary?"



 

"I don't understand that honestly. Were they trying to make him drop weight? Given the suit he wears, it wouldn't make much sense for him to be on a major dietary restriction," added one more user.



 

One user quipped, "No wonder he improvised lines about being hungry."



 

"Absolutely sickening, the way hollywood treats actors is unacceptable," stated another user.



 

One user said, "He deserved so much better than what he got."



 

"Poor Paul, that's not healthy at all," stated another user.



 

"I love me some sparkling water but damn. That's your REWARD?" questioned one user.



 

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