The daily gossip: Paul Rudd is the Sexiest Man Alive, Benedict Cumberbatch got nicotine poisoning shooting a movie, and more

1. Paul Rudd is the Sexiest Man Alive

It's an honor just to be sexy. Paul Rudd has been named People's 2021 Sexiest Man Alive, earning the title one year after it went to Michael B. Jordan. The Ant-Man star, though, said he fully expected most people's reaction to the news would be, "What?" — and he joked his own wife was "stupefied." Now that he has the sexy belt, though, Rudd hopes to "finally be invited to some of those sexy dinners with Clooney and Pitt and B Jordan." This announcement was a bit of a surprise after Page Six reported Chris Evans was set to be picked, and that report claimed Evans was actually nearly chosen in 2020, as well. Better luck next year, Cap!

People

2. Benedict Cumberbatch got nicotine poisoning shooting a movie

Benedict Cumberbatch revealed in an interview with Esquire he smoked so many cigarettes while working on his new movie The Power of the Dog, he gave himself nicotine poisoning multiple times. "That was really hard," the actor recalled. "Filterless rollies, just take after take after take. I gave myself nicotine poisoning three times. When you have to smoke a lot, it genuinely is horrible." Cumberbatch, who's been earning Academy Awards buzz for his performance in the Western, recounted how far he went to get into character — even going days without washing. "I wanted that layer of stink on me," he said. "I wanted people in the room to know what I smelt like." The things they do for Oscars.

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IndieWire Esquire

3. Prince Harry slams Megxit as a 'misogynistic term'

Prince Harry slammed the term "Megxit" during an appearance at the RE:WIRED conference, calling it "misogynistic." The word, referencing Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's step back as senior royals, "was or is a misogynistic term, and it was created by a troll, amplified by royal correspondents, and it grew and grew and grew," the Duke of Sussex said. Harry blasted British journalists who amplify the "hate and the lies" about Meghan, saying he finds it "troubling" that they "regurgitate these lies as truth." Harry also claimed he warned Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey "his platform was allowing a coup to be staged" just one day before the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. "I haven't heard from him since," Harry said.

E! Online Reuters

4. Alec Baldwin sued by 'Rust' gaffer after shooting

The key gaffer on Alec Baldwin's movie Rust is suing the actor following last month's fatal shooting, TMZ reports. Serge Svetnoy is reportedly suing Baldwin, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, assistant director Dave Halls, and others, accusing them of negligence and of causing him emotional distress. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in a tragic accident on the film's set after Baldwin discharged a prop gun, and Svetnoy claims the bullet almost hit him, too. He also says Baldwin had a "duty" to double check the gun to make sure it didn't have live ammunition and accuses him of negligence as a producer, as well, alleging the film production tried to "save money by hiring an insufficient number of crew members."

TMZ

5. Henry Cavill is ready to play Superman again: 'The cape is still in the closet'

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ... Henry Cavill Superman return? He's down if DC is. Cavill in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter said he thinks there's "still a lot of storytelling for me to do as a Superman," noting he's interested in returning as the character. The actor's been gone from the DC universe since Justice League, but he told the Reporter, "As I always say, 'The cape is still in the closet.'" If that doesn't happen, though, perhaps Cavill can take his talents to Marvel instead, as he expressed interest in joining the MCU as Captain Britain. "There's something fun about that," he said, "and I do love being British."

The Hollywood Reporter