John Cena opens up about stepping away from his usual comedy persona in new Netflix film
The actor shares how his new comedy gave him the chance to move beyond his usual comedic image
John Cena opened up about taking on a role that shows audiences a different side of his acting abilities.
The 49-year-old actor and former WWE star revealed that he was excited to play a more serious character in Netflix’s upcoming comedy Little Brother, where he stars alongside Eric André.
Speaking at the film’s premiere on Thursday, June 18, Cena explained that he appreciated André giving him the opportunity to step outside his usual comedic image and take on a more vulnerable role.
“The fact that Eric would wanna take a bet on me in a different capacity,” Cena said.
“This is a comedy, it’s a physical comedy, but Eric’s doing a lot of the heavy comedic lifting and I get to kind of be the more serious role that is more vulnerable, is more dramatic.”
“People don’t make those bets on me and I’m very happy that he was like, ‘I think you’d be good for this part,’” he added.
In Little Brother, Cena plays Rudd, a successful man whose life changes when a former “little brother” from a Big Brother-Little Brother youth program, played by André, unexpectedly returns to his life.
Cena previously connected with André when he appeared on The Eric André Show in 2020. The actor said he was already a fan of André’s work before receiving the script for the film.
“He passed [the script] on to me, said, ‘Give it a read, tell me what you think,’” Cena recalled.
He added that he believed the movie was a perfect opportunity for André to showcase his talent and that the project came together after finding the right team.
In recent years, Cena has continued expanding his acting career, becoming known for roles in comedy as well as his superhero character in the HBO Max series Peacemaker.
Reflecting on taking risks in his career, Cena compared the experience to his early days in WWE when many people doubted his abilities.
He explained that growth comes from continuing to challenge yourself, even when taking a chance may involve uncertainty.
Little Brother, which also stars Michelle Monaghan, Ego Nwodim, Christopher Meloni, and Sherry Cola, begins streaming on Netflix on June 26.
