John Cena recently opened up about his diverse acting career, describing his cameo in ‘Barbie’ as an unexpected “mistake” while fulfilling a “dream come true” with his role in ‘Fast and Furious’.
From WWE Ring to Hollywood Set
Transitioning from the WWE to a full-time acting career isn’t easy, but John Cena has certainly made his mark. Reflecting on his journey, Cena admits he wasn’t always efficient in choosing roles, even starring in what he called “sh movies” early on.
He credits films like Judd Apatow and Amy Schumer’s ‘Trainwreck’ for providing a safe space to experiment and learn. Later, his role in ‘Peacemaker’ under director James Gunn allowed him to deeply explore a flawed character, which he found to be an amazing experience.
A Dream Role in Fast & Furious
Joining the iconic ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise as Jakob Toretto, Dom Toretto’s long-lost brother, was a significant moment for Cena. He described the opportunity as a “dream come true,” especially stepping into a cast that had worked together for two decades.
Cena highlighted the welcoming nature of the cast and crew. He also noted the big difference from his WWE days; while wrestling involved intense, short performances, film acting required a new level of patience and adjustment, which took him time to master.
The “Accidental” Barbie Cameo
One of Cena’s most talked-about recent roles was his brief but memorable cameo as Merman Ken in ‘Barbie’. Surprisingly, this part came about purely by chance. Cena recounted an evening when he tried to do a kind gesture for someone he couldn’t properly greet at a dinner.
It turned out the person he was assisting was Margot Robbie, the star and producer of ‘Barbie’. During their conversation, Cena expressed his desire to be part of the film, despite believing the producers wouldn’t consider him. Coincidentally, Robbie was dining with the very people who could make it happen, and they did.
What followed was a unique filming experience. Cena ended up shooting both his ‘Barbie’ and ‘Fast X’ scenes simultaneously, a logistical feat made possible because the movie sets were located directly across from each other.
- John Cena views ‘Trainwreck’ and ‘Peacemaker’ as pivotal learning experiences that shaped his acting.
- Playing Jakob Toretto in ‘Fast 9’ was a “dream come true” and taught him patience.
- His ‘Barbie’ cameo was a serendipitous encounter with Margot Robbie.
- Cena filmed ‘Barbie’ and ‘Fast X’ at the same time due to their nearby sets.
Cena’s journey from wrestling icon to versatile actor continues to surprise and entertain audiences with his diverse role choices.
