Bruce Prichard Reveals Steve Austin’s Reluctance to Star in ‘The Marine’ Paved the Way for John Cena’s Cinematic Debut
Bruce Prichard, a prominent figure in the wrestling world, shared that John Cena was not the original choice for the lead role in WWE’s movie ‘The Marine’. The role was initially intended for Steve Austin, but he declined the offer, opening the door for Cena’s successful entry into the world of cinema.
“Steve Austin didn’t want to do it. That’s the simplest answer. The Marine was a vehicle for Steve. Steve didn’t want to do it, so we needed someone else to step into that role,” Prichard explained on his YouTube channel. “We had the movie, we had the script, we had the director, we had everybody on board. Now all we needed was the star.”
Austin, who was not working full-time and was looking for gigs, was not interested in the project. The WWE had already committed to the movie, and with Austin’s refusal, Cena was chosen to fill the void. “How about Cena? Congratulations, now a star is born,” Prichard added.
Despite mixed reviews, ‘The Marine’ turned out to be a commercial success, grossing over $22.2 million against a budget of $15 million, making it one of the most successful movies in WWE history. Prichard also mentioned that ‘The Marine’ outperformed ‘The Condemned’, another WWE movie starring Steve Austin, which made only $8.6 million against a budget of $20 million.
Prichard’s revelation provides an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the casting decisions in WWE’s foray into film production. It also underscores the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry, where one person’s refusal can become another person’s opportunity.
