File this one under “something I thought would never happen but makes total sense the longer I think about it”. According to the often reliable The Hollywood Reporter, John Cena is in talks to portray Duke Nukem in a film adaptation.
Paramount, who bought the rights to a Duke Nukem movie from Gearbox, will look to cast the WWE star, who will only need to grow his hair out a bit and dye it blonde to become the Duke. The project is still in its infancy with no writer or director attached, but it’s believed that the movie will be a vehicle for Cena.
In what should come as the most nailed on reveal ever, Platinum Dunes, co-run by Michael Bay (because of course), will be handling the production.
The timing of a Duke Nukem movie is rather odd considering that the cigar-chomper has been AWOL since the almost universally panned Duke Nukem Forever, itself delayed for an eternity. He has had a cameo appearance in the remaster of Bulletstorm and the re-release of Duke Nukem 3D, but there has been no word on an all-new Duke Nukem game and, honestly, it seems very unlikely.
The character also doesn’t really fit current times, so it will be interesting to see how the invisible Fruity Pebbles man handles such an iconic character. With The Rock starting his early Hollywood career with a turn in DOOM, maybe a similar path will also suit Cena?
Want more Duke? You should read our piece on why DOOM worked and why Forever didn’t.
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