John Cena has revealed that he was blacklisted from Hollywood for five years after starring in what he admits were “a lot of bad movies.” The WWE star turned actor says he understands why the industry turned away from him during that time.
In a new Vanity Fair interview, Cena opened up about the rough start to his acting career. His first major role came in 2006 with the action film The Marine, which received poor reviews. He followed that with forgettable roles in movies like Fred: The Movie and small TV parts.
“I should have got run out of town,” Cena said. “I didn’t appreciate the opportunities. I was doing movies just to sell more wrestling tickets.”
During that period, Cena was a full-time wrestler, working over 300 shows a year. He said the fast-paced WWE schedule made it hard for him to adjust to the slower world of filmmaking. “I wasn’t ready for it. I hated it,” he admitted.
From around 2010 to 2015, Cena only appeared in minor roles, mostly playing himself or appearing in low-budget comedies. He joked at a fan event earlier this year, “I got run out of the movie business once for making too many bad movies.”
His comeback began with a supporting role in Trainwreck (2015), where he starred in a surprising comedy role alongside Amy Schumer. He credits Schumer and director Judd Apatow for “taking a chance” on him.
Now, Cena is known for his roles in Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad, Fast & Furious 9, and other major films. As he nears retirement from wrestling, he is firmly established as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable action-comedy stars.
