Attitude adjustment

AS WRESTLING SUPERSTAR JOHN CENA FOLLOWS FELLOW WWE GRADUATE DWAYNE JOHNSON INTO THE FAST & FURIOUS FRANCHISE, HE TELLS THE TOTAL FILM THAT HE'S A "STORYTELLER AT HEART". WITH TWO MAJOR BLOCKBUSTERS ON THE HORIZON, THIS PROMISES TO BE THE SUMMER OF CENA.

- RICHARD EDWARDS

As much about playing to the crowds as a sporting prowess, professional wrestling has always had a Hollywood-like taste for the theatrical. That’s probably why the movies have been plucking stars out of the ring for decades, from Harold Sakata as James Bond’s hat-throwing nemesis Oddjob, to André The Giant as the gentle Fezzik in The Princess Bride.

But despite the best efforts of Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura, Hulk Hogan, and ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper, only Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has translated smackdown prowess into the sort of big-hitting star power that can launch a movie single-handed. Still, if anyone has the potential to join Johnson in that exclusive wrestling-champ-turned Hollywood-A-lister hall of fame, it’s John Cena, whose signature move in the ring was named ‘Attitude adjustment’.

Long-established as one of the biggest names in WWE, the 44-year-old has, of late, been making moves on the big screen. You’ll have seen him in the likes of Trainwreck and Bumblebee, and he’s even got that essential action-star staple – the family comedy – under his belt, courtesy of Playing With Fire. Now, with the big-budget blockbuster tag team of Fast & Furious 9 and The Suicide Squad hitting reopened cinemas in July 2021 is set to be the biggest year yet for Cena’s blossoming movie career.