John Cena reflected on the beginnings of his Hollywood career nearly two decades after making his film debut in The Marine.
The WWE star admitted that stepping into the movie world in 2006 felt “overwhelming” and also “immediately disappointing.”
Speaking with People Magazine, he said, “Which is so sad to say, but I have to lead with honesty.”
Adding, “That really led me to pretty much lose those [acting] opportunities. I pretty much was run out of town for the movie business in 2009, 2010. It was my own fault.”
As the actor made his debut with film The Marine, he admitted that it was met with mixed reviewed and he didn’t take filmmaking as seriously at the time as he did WWE.
Cena said he “didn’t have much passion in the projects that I was doing.”
“Making movies is a patient process, and everyone there has a meaningful position, and I came from a world of live performance where it’s very different,” he added.
Noting, “And you gotta keep in mind in 2004, heck, I was in my mid-20s, and I was WWE champion.”
Cena said of WWE, “Every town I went to, there were thousands of people either screaming that I’m awesome or screaming that I suck at the top of their lungs; it was like there’s nothing like it. There’s no feeling like it.”
However, on the movie set, he called it “library silent.” He said, “They’re very long days, they’re very patient days, and I think you just have to be in the mindset for it.”
“Thank goodness that some people along the way, in 2012, in 2015, saw some potential in me and took another gamble,” Cena added.
Furthermore, the 2015 projects like Trainwreck, Sisters and Daddy’s Home helped John Cena to change his perspective. “That’s why I approach every single opportunity now with gratitude and just try to be coachable.”
“That really helped me get a second chance that I know might not have been fully earned, but opportunity comes, and I answered the door, and I’m really trying to do the best I can with it,” the actor said.
