Given that he came from the world of sports and entertainment, John Cena has a lot more to prove than others actors. Looking back, those who have made the transition from the squared circle to the bright Hollywood sets haven't always been successful. Heck, the biggest star in wrestling history Hulk Hogan was a major dud on the big-screen during the '90s and his films tanked at the box office, despite his reach.
That tide appears to be turning in the recent years. Dwayne Johnson is on top of the mountain, which smash box office hit after smash box office hit. Dave Bautista is also earning his stripes, proving his worth as a great actor in serious dramas.
That leaves John Cena, who is really starting to shine as we're seeing more and more of his personality come through. 'Suicide Squad' was arguably his coming out party and it seems as though he'll keep that momentum going, with a slew of projects in the works.
However, long before the role, he was getting to appear alongside Mark Wahlberg in 'Daddy's Home'. The interaction between the two was very impactful for John Cena. We'll explain what went down between the two behind the scenes.
John Cena Replacing Mark Wahlberg?
Yes, apparently there are those making a case for John Cena to replace Mark Wahlberg in future projects. Hilariously, both started off as rappers early on, and are from the Massachusetts area.
According to Cracked, John Cena has the upper hand over Mark, given that he doesn't have an ego on-set, and is able to poke fun at himself.
The publication would also examine some recent Wahlberg roles, questioning if he was right for the spot and how much better the projects could've been with Cena in the spot instead.
We're not quite sure as to how Cena feels about the association, however, he'll be the first to admit that Mark was nothing but kind to him the first time they met.
It was supposed to be a quick cameo without too much time on the set. Instead, it turned into a lengthy conversation and one Cena really appreciated.
They Had A 90-Minute Chat The First-Time They Met
Cena was only on set for one day during the filming of 'Daddy's Home'. It was a small part and in truth, Cena stated that none of the cast needed to talk to him.
However, Mark was gracious enough to not only talk to Cena, but have a 90-minute conversation with him. Cena recalls the encounter alongside Collider.
"I’ve gotta give props to Mark Wahlberg. I was on set for a day, and I was just the button of the movie. None of those guys even needed to talk to me, but I got to spend 90 minutes with Mark and talked about life, business, etc."
Not only did the two hit it off, but Mark would also make John a promise, one that he would follow through on much to Cena's delight.
Mark Delivered On His Promise
John learned early on that Mark is a man of his word. During the 90-minute conversation, the star told Cena that if the film did well, a sequel would come into play. In addition, he promised Cena a spot.
Once the second film got the go-ahead, Cena was contacted, just as Mark promised. John was blown away by his loyalty.
"He said, “You know, if this thing hits, we’ll get a sequel and have a part for you.” I know that can be said, but sure enough, there is a sequel and the sequel is stacked and loaded. When you see the movie, they could have done it without me, but they put me in it, and that means the world. That’s one of the first things I told him, when we started filming. I said, “Man, you said that and you kept your word, and that’s very rare.” I’m very thankful. That was a really cool thing."
The film was a big success and it would also help to show Cena's range as a comedy actor.
Soon enough, he wasn't appearing in just action films, his resume expanded, and nowadays, he's looking like the total package in all kinds of different roles, especially comedies.
Great to see the two hit it off and create a tight bond. It is especially great to see Mark sticking his neck out for someone new to the acting world and delivering on his promise.