The Hollywood Byte #37: John Cena

WWE superstar John Cena has gone Hollywood. The wrestler makes his big screen debut in The Marine as John Triton, a soldier who returns from battle to find his wife (Kelly Carlson) ensnared in a kidnapping plot. The action film allowed Cena to perform some of the same moves as he does in the ring every week.

"I really enjoy the action genre," said Cena. "It's fun for me because it is very close to what we do in the WWE realm and I really do have a lot of fun with that. But at the same time, the action movie that we filmed is very story-based, so you do get enough character development. You do get enough of the other side of John Cena, if you will. There are romantic scenes and things that you wouldn't see in a WWE venue."

The film also opens up franchise potential for the actor, who could reprise the role again down the line like another John... Rambo.

"Initially this was really just a one-off movie, but I really do see something like that," said Cena. "It's a character that not only our WWE audience will identify with because I stay true to who I am and what I fight for, but at the same time it is different. It's a character that everybody can sink their teeth into. It's a run-of-the-mill, everyday type of guy who's just trying to put his life back together."

Cena has hopes and aspirations to climb beyond the ring and make a living as an action star one day, not unlike Dwayne Johnson.

"That's pretty much everybody's top question now, will you follow in the footsteps of The Rock?" said Cena. "He's established himself as an unbelievable actor. He's done such versatile things from the action-driven Rundown to his unbelievably funny part in Be Cool and then to a more serious role in Gridiron Gang. He's really run the gambit and pitched himself out there as an acting superstar, rather than as an action superstar. He left some pretty big shoes to fill but I'm going to do what I can to walk in them for a while."

Like many WWE wrestlers, Cena enjoys playing video games. THQ makes sure that superstars like Cena get hands-on time with their games before they're released. Cena was able to try out their latest game, WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2007.

"I think it's great," said Cena. "THQ does a hell of a job of re-inventing a game around a very similar engine each year, a la what EA does with the Madden and NBA Live games. THQ takes an engine that people who buy the game know how to play it. They even made it easier this year with the analog stick control. They've updated the graphics completely for Xbox 360. They've added the real-life voices. They always elevate their game."