John Cena recently looked back at his first movie, The Marine, released in 2006, which started the now-retired professional wrestler’s Hollywood journey. However, the 49-year-old admitted the experience did not go the way he expected.
John Cena talks about The Marine
The Marine marked John Cena’s first major movie role after he became one of WWE’s superstars, though it received mixed reactions. Speaking with PEOPLE, he admitted the experience felt exciting at first but quickly turned disappointing afterward. “Which is so sad to say, but I have to lead with honesty.”
The WWE star admitted he did not approach acting with the same focus and seriousness that he gave to wrestling during that period of his life. “That really led me to pretty much lose those [acting] opportunities. I pretty much was run out of town for the movie business in 2009, 2010. It was my own fault.”
Cena also confessed he was not emotionally connected to many of the acting projects he worked on back then. “I didn’t have much passion in the projects that I was doing.” He said movie sets felt much quieter and slower compared to WWE crowds and live performances. “Making movies is a patient process, and everyone there has a meaningful position, and I came from a world of live performance where it’s very different.”
The former rapper also pointed out that he was still very young during that period while handling enormous fame as WWE Champion. “And you gotta keep in mind in 2004, heck, I was in my mid-20s, and I was WWE champion.”
Cena added, “Every town I went to, there were thousands of people either screaming that I’m awesome or screaming that I suck at the top of their lungs. There’s no feeling like it.” He described movie sets as quiet places where actors often do not know if a scene is working right away.
“They’re very long days, they’re very patient days, and I think you just have to be in the mindset for it.” Despite the rough start, Cena credited a few people in Hollywood for believing in him and giving him another opportunity years later. “Thank goodness that some people along the way, in 2012, in 2015, saw some potential in me and took another gamble.”
“That’s why I approach every single opportunity now with gratitude and just try to be coachable.” Cena also added. “I’ve learned through my failures that most of them have been my unawareness to realize that something good is afoot and I should take advantage of it.”
After The Marine, John Cena continued building his successful Hollywood career, where he starred in several major projects. This year, he will also star in Little Brother and Coyote vs. Acme. In October, Apple TV will release the action film Matchbox: The Movie.
