John Cena’s Acting Journey: From The Marine To Peacemake

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Robert Patrick recently discussed how much John Cena has improved as an actor since they first worked together. Their first project was the 2006 film The Marine, where Cena played Sergeant John Triton and Patrick played the villain, Rome. While The Marine received negative reviews and currently has a 17% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Patrick acknowledges Cena’s growth since then.

John Cena and Robert Patrick worked together again nearly twenty years after their first project when they were both cast in Peacemaker. Cena stars as the main character, Christopher Smith, also known as Peacemaker, and Patrick plays his father, Auggie Smith, who goes by the name White Dragon. Even though Auggie dies in the first season, a version of him from another dimension appears in season 2 of Peacemaker.

During a recent interview with ScreenRant about his Love Ride charity event, Patrick Dempsey shared a story about working with John Cena on the film The Marine. He remembered Cena being unsure of himself at the beginning of the shoot, but praised how much he’s improved as a performer. Patrick even compared Cena’s journey to that of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who successfully transitioned from bodybuilding to become a popular action star known for comedy.

He now thinks John Cena has incredible potential. He points out that their past acting experience together made their on-screen chemistry as Chris and Auggie even better, something James Gunn didn’t realize at first. You can read Patrick’s full thoughts below.

It’s been great watching John Cena’s evolution as an actor, especially since I worked with him early in his career on ‘The Marine.’ He was very open about not knowing what he was doing at first and actively sought advice from everyone on set, which is a big reason for his success. It’s interesting to compare his path to actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who used his physique to define the action hero look, or Bruce Willis, who played against that type with the ‘everyman’ persona. Sylvester Stallone also blended fitness with the superhero aspect of his roles. John, coming from wrestling with a strong physique, naturally fit that mold. Now, with ‘Peacemaker,’ he’s exploring comedy, much like Arnold did. I think John’s potential is limitless – he’s incredibly dedicated. I remember he always had a book with him in the makeup trailer. Our shared history and chemistry definitely helped when we played father and son in the recent project, and the director, James, really tapped into that dynamic without even realizing our background.

I’m a huge fan of Peacemaker, and everyone agrees John Cena absolutely nails the role! He manages to be funny, but also really vulnerable and heartfelt – it’s an amazing performance. And unlike his movie The Marine, the show has been a critical success. Both seasons got incredible reviews – Season 1 with a 93% score, and Season 2 even better at 94%! It’s just a fantastic series.

Episode 7 of Peacemaker season 2 received a lot of positive feedback, with viewers and critics especially impressed by John Cena and Freddie Stroma’s performances. Many felt their scenes together were the most emotionally powerful and heartbreaking of the entire series.

Thanks to his work in the DC universe, John Cena is now widely recognized as a serious actor, not just a WWE star who occasionally appears on screen. He has several exciting projects coming up, including the long-awaited “Coyote vs. Acme,” the action-comedy “Matchbox,” and the comedy “Little Brother.”

Although a third season of Peacemaker isn’t currently in the works, James Gunn has stated that Chris will reappear in future DC Universe projects. This is especially likely given the cliffhanger at the end of Peacemaker season 2, and some believe he’ll be in the 2027 film Man of Tomorrow. No matter what happens with Peacemaker in the DCU, John Cena has proven himself to be a talented and versatile actor.

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2025-11-09 17:18