Beloved WWE Superstar, legend, and sought-after actor John Cena is no stranger to the big screen and a huge fandom. Having been at the forefront of the WWE, he has captured and still continues to capture fans with his witty charm and humor, unarguable talents, chiseled physical composition, and unapologetic charisma.Having recently celebrated his 20th WWE anniversary and with the premiere of his record-breaking HBO Superhero series Peacemaker, John Cena is ready to take the big screen by storm and leave a well-deserved mark as one of Hollywood's favorite actors. With Peacemaker doing just that, here are some interesting facts leading to John Cena landing his role on Peacemaker and how it would undeniably skyrocket his movie career.
9 Peacemaker Character Reprised From Hit Movie Suicide Squad
Peacemaker originated from the popular DCEU film Suicide Squad, which premiered in theaters and on HBO Max in August 2021. It starred some of the biggest names in Hollywood like Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, and Viola Davis. Though the titular character was killed off by Bloodsport (played by Idris Elba), it was shown at the end of the movie that Peacemaker didn't actually die. Peacemaker appears to be here to stay in the DC Extended Universe and viewers are living for it.
8 The Birth Of Anti-Hero Christopher Smith
Having been birthed from Suicide Squad, Christopher Smith, also known as Peacemaker, delivers showstopping moments and die-hard patriotism, albeit politically incorrect they may be. A violence-fueled patriot and self-righteous psycho who will do anything, as long as he can justify it in the name of his country. He lives by his motto, "I made a vow to have peace, no matter how many people I have to kill to get it."
7 John Cena Was Not The First Pick To Play Peacemaker
Even though the actor said yes to the role of a lifetime before he even knew what was being pitched to him by show creator James Gunn, he was not the first pick to play Peacemaker. In an interview with Esquire Middle East, Cena stated, "I’m not sure I was James’ first choice for Peacemaker. And I don’t care. Because I eventually was asked, and when asked you do the best you can deliver.”
6 John Cena Was Rejected To Play A Superhero Twice
With the huge success Peacemaker has had, who would have thought that John Cena was rejected for a superhero role not once, but twice. Having had a rocky start breaking into the movie industry, he was met with letdowns playing the roles he had coveted for so long. He found Shazam interesting and wanted the role but never got it. He also auditioned for the role of Cable in Deadpool 2 that eventually went to Josh Brolin. Now, everything appears to have worked out quite alright for the star.
5 Anti-Hero Persona Contrasts With Wrestling Superhero And Never Give Up Character
With his hustle, loyalty, and respect mantra, John Cena has undeniably become an in-ring superhero who has spoken about never giving up. Now this character's wannabe superhero persona with anti-hero doings which has shot into super stardom, is in contrast with Cena's WWE core values and upright virtues. Peacemaker is flawed, vulnerable, and ruthless in the name of peace and definitely not virtuous. This doesn't align with the version of John Cena the WWE universe fans have known and loved for so long. This only goes to show the versatile prowess of the Peacemaker actor.
4 Peacemaker Helped Cena Reach A Larger Audience
Peacemaker remains the good luck charm Cena's career has needed. For someone who has wanted to play an actual superhero and reach that acting milestone like fellow wrestler turned movie star, Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), his wit and humor was able to capture audiences and his WWE experience in choreographed segments and scripted acting enabled a meticulous execution.
3 First Breakout Lead Role Breaking Records
John Cena was already a household name in the acting and most definitely the wrestling world before he landed this life-changing role as Peacemaker. He had film accolades to his name, ranging from Trainwreck, to Bumblebee, as well as the Fast & Furious franchise F9 and so much more. With the star leading this hit show, it was recorded that the series finale of Peacemaker had the biggest single day performance for an HBO Max Original series, setting a new viewership record for the streaming service.
2 John Cena Looks Forward To Returning For Season 2
After it was announced that the show would be returning for season 2, John Cena took to social media to comment about how excited he was to reprise his role. He said, "I'm excited to return and create more peace in season 2." For someone who delivered remarkably, viewers cannot wait to see him on the big screen again.
1 Peacemaker Was Nothing Like Cena Had Done Before And He Delivered More Than Expected
John Cena has stated that he took on the role of Peacemaker because it offered him a blank slate. There were no shoes to fill, and he thought about the possibility of exploring a career no one had done before. While the hit series is redefining Cena's career as a movie star, Cena has proven to be the best man for the role, for a man who is relatively new to the DCEU. The Guardian has called Cena the show’s strongest attribute.