A statement from the master of the Marvel-governed cosmic universe and The Suicide Squad that really sparked a lot of conversation. Gunn said he does not recognize Cena as a wrestler-turned-actor, “that’s just an actor.” Gunn in an interview had said, “Every actor did something before they were acting, and that just happens to be the job he had before this. Because he is fantastic.” This ignited massive debate amongst social media circles, as some gamers and cinephiles debated about Cena’s transition from one field to the other and what it meant for performers coming from less conventional beginnings.
Gunn meant every word of his praise for Cena. Aside from working with him in The Suicide Squad, Gunn also directed the Peacemaker series which probably really let Cena shine in comedic and dramatic ways. Clearly, Gunn respects Cena: he won’t be alone in that respect. The comments online seemed to lean to the positive side in that many agreed that Cena has attained his stripes as a genuine actor.
Snap tweeted, “@DiscussingFilm @jamesgunn just fucking gets it. ALL of it!”. @Snap encapsulated so well the general sentiment. It goes way beyond merely standing up for Cena—it’s about acknowledging that talent is all-encompassing. However, Juliana Conz stated, “@DiscussingFilm That’s true. Most people take ‘funny’ actors for granted but Cena is so comfortable in his skin that allows him to go crazy and do stuff most ‘serious’ actors wouldn’t allow themselves to do. Can’t wait to see what else he can bring us.” This provides some insight into how Cena’s training in WWE, in which he performed live in front of huge crowds, actually prepared him for the sometimes unpredictable realm of film roles.
Oh-wait, where was I? The wrestler-to-actor pipeline? So it’s nothing really new, but the Cena success has a completely different feel to it. Compared with other wrestlers-turned-actors, Cena really does add a lot to versatility. Be it action blockbusters such as F9 or comedy ratings with Trainwreck or the dramatic outing in The Suicide Squad, he’s taking them all down with impunity. The very same gamers who live for character-driven stories would love one of that level of versatility: it’s like getting real-time skill tree upgrades in an RPG.
Others took a lighthearted jab. Smoove2CrxZ joked “@DiscussingFilm Real ones know John cena was a rapper before all this” followed by some laughter and applause. This is true because Cena really did put out a rap album back in 2005. In a sense, that means Cena has always been a man of many talents. Then Buni Tori joins the conversation with “@DiscussingFilm Wrestlers are kind of the epitome of acting. It combines Broadway, Live television, Stuntwork etc…” And they’re not wrong. Any wrestler will agree with that, for one needs to be an athlete, a storyteller, and an entertainer who performs many exciting stunts. That particular set of skills will go a long way toward film acting.
Still, some were not fully behind it, though. Daniel U. Orji replied, “@DiscussingFilm But he’s a wrestler turned actor, that’s not a good or bad thing, it’s a thing,” which is a fairly good perspective. Labels are never good or bad, but it seems Gunn points out that Cena has moved past the label of “former wrestler” and should be recognized for the work he is doing now. Like when an update to a game character is a massive change, so everybody has to relearn their new way of working—except in this case, it’s John Cena’s entire career.
Then the conversation started comparing Cena to other wrestler-actors like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dave Bautista. User jeffcolby489 suggested, “@DiscussingFilm James Gunn lowkey throwing shade at The Rock here 👀 He said John Cena is an actor… meanwhile some people still look like they’re just playing themselves on screen.” That is quite a spicy take though—it theatrically brings up an interesting discussion surrounding the approach of different performers to performing. To name a few, Bautista has been lauded for his work on Blade Runner and Guardians, suggesting that he approaches the craft with just as much commitment as Cena.
Taking it even further, an idea was pitched by XGordorX “@DiscussingFilm We need a movie with Cena and Bautista playing two rivalling Wrestling coaches,” which honestly sounds like a lot of fun. Whenever or if that intensity will manifest, it will be palpable. It will be a fighting game storyline come to life. Then again, with Gunn’s knack for blending grime with comedy, he’d be the perfect guy to direct it.
Amidst these really serious conversations, there were many weird juvenile moments. J_M_0_N added to the foreign language skills conversation, tweeting “@DiscussingFilm No. You should be applauding Cena for his language abilities instead of his acting. He can speak near perfect 🇨🇳 Mandarin 👌 P.s. he also wears shorts way past his knees” which is just… random but true. Cena became fluent in Mandarin with an eye toward the Chinese market during his WWE days. The guy’s dedication!
In the end, Gunn’s remarks bring an even bigger discussion into the spotlight of pigeonholing individuals. Misha TurtleX put it this way: “@DiscussingFilm People try to pigeonhole very talented people into one definition or type. You can be more than a wrestler. More than an actor. You can be anything you want to be (or at least attempt it), and if you do multiple things really well, that’s all the more impressive.” It is a reminder that talent does not fit into one box; whether you are a gamer who streams or a wrestler who turns actor, embracing multiple passions can lead to unexpected success.
So yeah, James Gunn sees John Cena as an actor, full stop. And with people giving it almost unanimous support now, it’s turning into the common view. Cena’s journey from the ring to the big screen is a testimony to hard work and versatility, something any movie, game, or even just a face watching him defy odds would appreciate. That also means that, thanks to Gunn, Cena is starting to show up in even more roles that really push both the actor and the public’s perception of him.
