John Cena’s making waves and it’s not in the wrestling ring. The wrestler took everyone by surprise with his new gig as a mermaid in Margot Robbie’s Barbie movie. Word has it; that the 46-year-old went rogue against his agency’s advice, ruffling some feathers in his inner circle.
This unexpected twist not only shows Cena’s daring side, breaking free from the usual tough-guy image but also leaves us wondering what’s behind this career curveball.
John Cena Defies The Agency For A Barbie Cameo
John Cena’s got everyone talking with his move: he went against his agency’s advice and landed a cameo in the Barbie movie.
He spilled the beans on The Howard Stern Show, saying his agency warned him against appearing in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie flick as a mermaid Barbie, thinking it might mess up his shot at future big roles. But Cena wasn’t buying it. He said,
“They know is, This entity, this commodity gravitates toward these things, we should stay in this lane.’ But I’m not a commodity. I’m a human being, and I operate under the construct of every opportunity is an opportunity.”
Cena’s cameo in Barbie lasted less than a minute, but it turned out to be a massive hit. The movie made a whopping $1.4 billion worldwide, becoming the top-grossing film of 2023 and Warner Bros.’ biggest hit ever.
It also snagged eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Despite the initial concerns from his agency, Cena’s bet paid off big time.
It’s worth noting that Cena’s hilarious Barbie cameo might not have happened if he hadn’t been involved in Fast X.
John Cena’s Funny Barbie Cameo Owed To His Fast X Role
Cena’s funny turn as Merman Ken in the 2023 Barbie movie was all thanks to a lucky break during the filming of Fast X. Barbie movies often feature celebs, but Cena’s appearance was a real curveball, adding some laughs to the mix.
While Barbie’s had its fair share of celebrity cameos over the years, none were quite as unexpected or amusing as Cena’s Merman Ken. There’ve been Barbie Mermaids aplenty, but not so many Ken Mermen. Cena’s version was a whole new take.
In Barbie’s storyline, Cena’s cameo happened at a key moment when Barbie and her crew found out Barbieland had changed a lot. It was a fun surprise, throwing Barbie off for a bit before hinting at the Kens’ role, as shown later by Gosling’s Ken.
Cena’s cameo fit right into Barbie’s surreal world, but it only happened because of a chance meeting between Fast X and Barbie sets. Fast X, the tenth Fast & Furious movie, played a big part in getting Cena into Barbie.
He spilled the beans during the same interview, saying,
“Margot was like, ‘We’ll make you a mermaid. You’ll be in it for half a day.’ But I think the perspective from an agency standpoint was, This is beneath you, which I get. But I was like, ‘No we’re going to do it,’ but all they can do is offer their guidance.”
With both Fast X and Barbie making waves, Cena’s surprise Barbie cameo proves he’s got range and staying power in showbiz. It’s a sign that he’s not afraid to mix things up and try new things, adding to his already impressive career.
