How The Marine Launched John Cena's Hollywood Career

John Cena is one of the few wrestlers who has successfully made the jump to Hollywood. Like most wrestlers-turned-actors, his first role was the military thriller The Marine, which is now available to stream for free on Tubi. Cena stars as former U.S. Marine John Triton, who is struggling to adjust to civilian life after a dishonorable discharge.

At the suggestion of his wife, Kate (Kelly Carlson), Triton takes a road trip to clear his head but runs afoul of robber Rome (Robert Patrick) and his gang; Rome kidnaps Kate and Triton sets off to rescue her, inflicting bloody violence on the robbers. The Marine launched an entire franchise and helped propel Cena, but it could have been drastically different.

WWE originally sought out 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin as the lead and named Al Pacino as the antagonist; Austin passed over displeasure with the script, while runner-up Randy Orton also passed because of his military discharge. That left Cena, who later admitted in an interview, "If I’m gonna do action, why am I doing it here?

United States, Hollywood

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