John Cena’s MCU Role Wish Is Perfect Fantastic Four Casting

John Cena alluded to a potential MCU role for him in a video for Esquire, and in doing so revealed a perfect casting for the Fantastic Four. Cena’s on-screen career began with his rise to fame as a wrestler for WWE, steadily building from his Doctor of Thuganomics persona into a cornerstone of the franchise. However, he’s also proved himself in the world of film, with roles in Fast & Furious 9 and The Suicide Squad establishing him as a figure also capable of giving a genuinely good acting performance outside of the realms of the wrestling ring.

But Cena has yet to grace the Marvel Cinematic Universe, leading to many questioning what role he would best suit in the now-goliath film franchise. Such thoughts prompted a question on whether the wrestler would consider playing the role of Ben Grimm, otherwise known as Fantastic Four member The Thing. Cena’s answer – a series of rapid-fire puns about his willingness to “consider almost any-thing,” – both appears to answer this question in the affirmative, and also serve as a clear marker of how well he would work in the role, given the Thing’s own comedic stylings.

And this isn’t the only reason John Cena would be an ideal casting for the role of the Thing. While being able to serve witty quips is a requirement of any actor thinking of taking on the mantle of Ben Grimm, his physicality and fighting prowess is also something not to be overlooked; a prowess that Cena would be able to naturally provide, as a result of his decades of experience in the wrestling industry. To further sweeten the deal, John Cena’s role as Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad has established that the actor isn’t limited to solely comedic roles, and this proof he can play emotionally complex and layered characters solidifies the idea he is capable of playing The Thing as both the jokester he is, and the deeply troubled but well-intentioned individual that lies beneath the jokes.

With a Peacemaker spinoff show on the horizon, it’s clear John Cena’s schedule will be packed for the foreseeable future, but with the casting for the MCU Fantastic Four film still uncertain, it isn’t unfathomable to think that he could be considered for the role, especially given the extra attention casting him could provide the film. This would also provide an avenue for Cena’s acting career that correlates more with his in-ring one, as a Fantastic Four movie would potentially be more accessible for his huge number of child fans, whereas the R-rated The Suicide Squad was a decidedly more adult-orientated affair.

Regardless of theoretical film roles, it’s clear Cena’s future is a bright one, as this is something that has been transparent since the early days of his rising star in the WWE. That said, seeing John Cena play The Thing in the MCU’s Fantastic Four would add that extra something magic to the role and film – which would provide a balm for viewers who weren’t pleased with earlier versions of the film, and establish a whole new era for one of Marvel’s oldest comic families.

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