John Cena 'got ran out' of Hollywood before unexpected second chance

John Cena’s Hollywood career nearly ended before it ever truly got off the ground.

The WWE legend admitted he once "ran out of the movie business" because he simply didn’t care enough about acting, revealing that his heart remained in the wrestling ring as he struggled to embrace the slower pace of life on a film set.

Cena reflected on the rocky start to a Hollywood career that would eventually include roles in "The Suicide Squad," the "Fast & Furious" franchise and "Peacemaker" during an appearance on the "TODAY" show.

SYLVESTER STALLONE'S ADVICE TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING 50 YEARS AFTER 'ROCKY' CHANGED HIS LIFE "It’s been a long journey," he explained.

"I think that’s the important one.

People think things happen overnight.

Those early projects – truth be told – I didn’t have my heart into." For Cena, his priorities were elsewhere.

"As a young 20-something, God, traveling the world, being out in front of tens of thousands of people every night going nuts and then doing it night after night, that’s where I wanted to be and that’s where I felt comfortable and fluent," he said, referencing his successful career in the WWE .

GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE Cena described working on a film set as "super patient" and "super slow." "I just didn’t have the wisdom for the process," he claimed.

But Hollywood apparently had little patience for Cena’s lack of enthusiasm.

"I got ran out of the movie business for not caring and that’s justifiably so," he added.

"If you don’t care about something, give somebody the opportunity that does." Cena began his acting career with roles in movies such as "The Marine" and "12 Rounds." However, Cena didn't see success until the 2010s with roles in "Trainwreck," "Blockers" and "The Suicide Squad." He's said his role as Peacemaker in the DC Extended Universe changed his life.

The 2021 movie has since been turned into a TV series.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Cena also joined the "Fast and Furious" franchise in 2021, playing Vin Diesel's character's brother in "Fast 9: The Fast Saga" and "Fast X." The actor later made a cameo in "Barbie" in 2023, and starred in the Hulu original movies "Vacation Friends" plus "Vacation Friends 2." But after years of finding his footing in Hollywood, Cena said his attitude toward acting couldn't be more different today.