{Consideration provided by 20th Century Fox}
Much of what I knew about John Cena I learned from my 9-year old, who’s affinity for the WWE wrestler arose out of a film inspired by YouTube videos that aired on Nickelodeon. Unlike the stereotypical wrestler, Cena’s disposition is quiet and powerful, yet approachable and unpretentious.
Ferdinand – A Family Film for Everyone
During 20th Century Fox’s CinemaCon presentation of their 2017 film slate, Cena made a surprise appearance to talk about his role in Ferdinand, slated for release this Christmas. Directed by Carlos Saldanha and produced by Blue Sky Studios, Ferdinand tells the story of a giant bull with a big heart. Deemed a menace, he is captured and taken from his home in Spain. Resolved to return to his family, Ferdinand rallies an unlikely team to embark on the ultimate adventure. Ferdinand also stars the voice talents of Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Gabriel Iglesias, and more.
After an inspiring presentation that won the hearts of audiences, Cena sat down for an intimate interview where he discussed the evolution of his role in the film, the striking semblance of his character to his own personality and why audiences will resonate with the film’s subtle but powerful message.
From WWE Wrestler to Ferdinand
Being a professional wrestler is demanding, and yet Cena understood how powerful the story of Ferdinand is and resolved to make time in his schedule to voice the character. “When opportunities come up that I like, I just say…I’ll find more time in the day.” Originally, the studio wanted Cena to voice a different character. However, after re-working the script, Fox and Blue Sky Studios asked Cena to voice Ferdinand.
Cena was sought out, in part, for his powerful voice. The filmmakers at Sky Studios wanted “somebody larger than life” who you could also “sit down and have a conversation with.” Fortunately for Cena, he did not have to alter his voice much during recording. Director Saldanha knew what he wanted in the character of Ferdinand and walked Cena through the process in the sound booth.
“In every aspect, I am Ferdinand”
As the guy who can’t walk onto a stage without being challenged to a wrestling match, Cena resonates with the character of Ferdinand. Both are misunderstood and treated as such. Cena has had to endure the typecasting that goes along with being a professional wrestler. “But I’m a human being,” he remarks. “I’m a different guy than what you see [and] I couldn’t think of a better way to kind of tell my story through their story.”
I’m always surprised at how astute kids are when it comes to modern culture. When we visited the Aquarium of the Pacific for the Surf’s Up 2 press junket, an entire audience of kids vocalized their request for director Henry Yu to draw J.C., Cena’s penguin counterpart. Cena’s animated work also includes voicing Ernie the Elephant for a pistachios campaign and some limited animation for WWE.
“There’s more than meets the eye…you don’t judge a book by its cover”
Ferdinand, like Cena is largely misunderstood. And this notion of looking beyond the surface is what resonated so profoundly with Cena. On the surface, Ferdinand “is a great movie, a fun ride.” It has “all the entertainment of those animated movies that adults have to pleasantly watch 2,000 times.” But what he finds to be impactful is the fact that “you can tell a story and take people on a fun ride and also leave them…[with] something to think about.” Rather than patronize, the film includes an important yet subtle message about looking beyond the surface to understand the fabric of a person (or in this case, a bull). “It’s done just organic enough for a kid to understand it and want to gravitate towards it.”
“I’m the guy…who goes against the grain”
So much of Cena’s disposition was in stark contrast to my preconceived notions about professional wrestlers (perhaps I need a lesson in books and covers). Soft-spoken and reserved, his power was displayed in his words. This refusal to succumb to stereotypes is perhaps what makes Cena so compelling. “I am a softie,” he remarks. “I’m the person that if the commercial is good, I get teary-eyed.” And this commitment to being authentic is perhaps what has propelled Cena’s career forward. ” Cena recalls reaching a point in his career where is accomplishments were abundant. During this time, he came to the realization that “nobody here ever lets their guard down. It’s never their own fault. They never take accountability. They never show humility. They never show vulnerability. And I just did.” There is a scene in Ferdinand where he finds out that the “entire structure of what the bulls believe in isn’t really what it seems…they just believe it because they are told to believe it.” That is a great moment…the parallels transcend coincidence.
See Ferdinand in theaters this Christmas. Stay up to date by visiting Ferdinand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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