John Cena admitted that appearing in the Barbie movie might not have been the best career move. Known for his genre-hopping and comedic chops, Cena surprised fans with a quirky merman cameo, a move he now feels clashed with his long-term brand.
Cena’s brief, whimsical turn in Barbie didn’t just raise eyebrows among industry veterans – even his dedicated fans questioned the decision. Cena, whose filmography includes Peacemaker, Fast & Furious, and Blockers, now views Barbie as a detour that softened his image in ways he hadn’t intended.
How the Role Happened
Cena’s cameo as Mermaid Ken in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie may have been small, but fans still remember it. In a candid interview with Vanity Fair, John Cena shared how a dinner encounter led to the role. “This was the second time I got to act alongside my acting bestie Dua Lipa! I hope she’s doing well,” he said. “But honestly, this was a mistake.”
He explained that during an intimate dinner with his wife, he had a brief interaction with another guest and decided to anonymously pay for their meal, not knowing it was a table hosted by Margot Robbie. “I just wanted to do something nice,” he recalled.
That kind gesture led to an unexpected conversation. “Margot and I had worked together on Suicide Squad, and she’s phenomenal – incredible work ethic, amazing talent,” Cena said. “She told me she was doing Barbie. I was working on Fast X across the street. She said, ‘Come do Barbie,’ and I said, ‘Absolutely. I’d do anything for you.’”
Though he knew the role would clash with public expectations of him, Cena trusted his gut. “We knocked it out in two hours. It was fast. I thought, who cares? What’s the worst that could happen? I always ask myself, what can go right?”
Looking Ahead
Despite second thoughts, Cena’s instincts weren’t entirely off as Barbie, went on to gross over $1 billion worldwide.
Cena recently appeared in the action-comedy Heads of State alongside Priyanka Chopra and Idris Elba.
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