Have you ever wondered how Marvel actors manage to achieve a flawless superhero physique in record time? Well, a clinical expert has revealed some interesting secrets related to this scenario to Variety.
Since the inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008, we have seen numerous Marvel actors portraying superheroes and gods in the franchise’s films with impressive physiques. Many of them managed to bulk up in record time. This scenario has naturally raised doubts in fans’ minds about the manner in which they achieve these perfect body shapes. As part of being a superhero, MCU actors need to stay in tip-top body shapes to embody the athleticism and strength of their respective superhero characters.
It was Variety who first reported that Marvel Studios reconsidered The Multiverse Saga after Jonathan Majors’ arrest. The prominent media publication house also reported that Marvel executives thought about replacing Kang the Conqueror with Doctor Doom. And now, Variety’s latest report about Marvel actors using performance-enhancing drugs to achieve perfect superhero figures is gaining a lot of attention from people.
Dr. Todd Schroeder, a clinical physiotherapy expert, disclosed to Variety that nearly 50% of Marvel actors use performance-enhancing drugs to attain their physique for MCU projects. Although, this was an educated guess.
“Though forbidden by sports leagues, many steroid treatments are perfectly legal. Dr. Todd Schroeder, associate professor of clinical physical therapy and director of the University of Southern California Clinical Exercise Research Center at the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, estimated that over half of Marvel’s stars use some form of performance-enhancing drug (PED) to get the physiques they want. ‘At least for the short term,’ he said. ‘I would say that fifty to seventy-five per cent do.’”
There is no denying that PEDs can leave dangerous and long-term side effects on human bodies. However, medical professionals have enhanced their knowledge about them in recent years. The threats that come with the prolonged utilisation of PEDs have not changed. But medical professionals and PED users are more informed about them than they were 10-15 years ago.
There has not been a Marvel actor who has openly accepted the usage of performance-enhancing drugs. However, the report claims that many of them “work with a physician as well as a nutritionist and a trainer, and it’s a team.”
Nowadays, it has become common for actors to have a team consisting of personal assistants, nutritionists, professional trainers, and medical experts. Many of them, reportedly, use PESs (performance-enhancing substances) and PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) for short-term periods under the strict guidance of their medical teams.
Although, not all Marvel actors are expected to use PEDs to enhance their body performance. It is possible that some of them prefer using regular exercise and natural diets while keeping themselves away from all sorts of artificial aids. Additionally, several biological factors, including genetics, also play an important role in physical fitness.
Do you remember Kumail Nanjiani when he got ripped while filming MCU’s Eternals? A lot of people claimed that the Pakistani actor used steroids to achieve his picture-perfect physique. He also talked about his body shape in an interview with GQ.
“A lot of times, we are taught to be useful by using physical strength or our brain in an aggressive, competitive way. Not in an empathetic way. Not in an open, collaborative way… It’s about defeating. And that’s what the male ideal has been. Dominating. Defeating. Crushing. Killing. Destroying. That’s what being jacked is.”
There was a time when fatter body shapes were more likeable in Hollywood, as they represented power and wealth. Then came the era of the 1970s when celebrities like Mick Jagger and David Bowie became popular for their slim physical bodies. Then, in the 80s, we saw legends like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger having quintessential bulked-up bodies. Arnold looked more intimidating and had more body weight than Stallone. On the other hand, the on-screen Rambo was more of a well-muscled guy in his action films.
Actors like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and even Robert Downey Jr have achieved perfect body shapes while filming MCU projects. Hemsworth took things to the next level when he got extra swole for Thor: Love and Thunder. However, bulking up for every superhero or action project is certainly not a healthy and sustainable alternative in the long run. Hemsworth must have realised this, which is why he has refused to bulk up for Extraction 2. For Extraction 2, the actor relied more on functional training than traditional body-building exercises. Stay tuned for more updates.