John Cena set to star in 'The Janson Directive' with Dwayne Johnson producing

He was supposed to be the one to headline the film but his incredibly schedule stopped him from starring in the film
John Cena and Dwayne Johnson (Source : Getty Images)
John Cena and Dwayne Johnson (Source : Getty Images)

Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is collaborating with former colleague, John Cena, for an action thriller film titled 'The Janson Directive'.

Cena is currently in talks with Universal to act in the project that is based on the acclaimed novel by Robert Ludlum, the man who brought super spy Jason Bourne to life.

John Cena will star as the lead in the upcoming film (Getty Images)

The Blockers actor will play Paul Janson who is a former Navy SEAL now working as a corporate security consultant. The character Janson becomes a target after a rescue mission goes sideways.

James Vanderbilt of White House Down fame is set to adapt the film from a story that he co-wrote with Akiva Goldsman.

Johnson had made Cena's casting announcement on April 30 on all his social media handles. He was supposed to be the one to headline the film but his incredibly schedule stopped him from starring in the film.

Johnson stars in the upcoming film Skyscraper and will also be acting in Sony's sequel to 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'.

The former wrestler will executive produce the film along with Dany Garcia of Seven Bucks and Mythology's Tracy Nyberg.

Dwayne Johnson will produce the film with John Cena as the star (Getty Images)

Captive Entertainment's Ben Smith and Jeffrey Weiner will produce The Janson Directive with Hiram Garcia of Seven Bucks Productions. Vanderbilt, Brad Fischer, and William Sherak of Mythology will join the ranks of the producers along with Goldsman for Weed Road Pictures.

Cena stars in the upcoming comedy film Blockers by Universal and will be seen after that in the Transformers reboot by Paramount, Bumblebee. The wrestler-turned-actor is represented by ICM.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Suburbia meets dinosaur territory in Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor’s ‘The End of Oak Street,’ arriving soon on HBO Max.
2026-11-07T19:01:32.000Z
The search for Daniel Craig’s James Bond successor takes another turn as two familiar faces reportedly enter the race for 007.
2026-11-07T13:45:19.000Z
Paramount slots the Hasbro reimagining just ahead of Halloween, with McBride directing his first feature
2026-11-07T10:09:36.000Z
‘Heated Rivalry’ will be showcased in a special event from November 6 to November 30
2026-11-07T08:42:14.000Z
A celebrated author adopts her late sister's daughter in 'In Her Shadow' after learning the child was kept locked in a basement for five years.
2026-11-06T17:03:04.000Z
Sydney Sweeney's 'Hollow' reimagines 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' through Katrina Van Tassel perspective, turning familiar gothic tale into mystery.
2026-11-06T15:14:50.000Z
Tyler Riggs' 'Crocodile Smile' blends romance and horror in a story about a killer whose unexpected feelings lead to bloody consequences.
2026-11-06T11:46:59.000Z
The highly anticipated film picks up after the war as Japan struggles to rebuild
2026-11-06T07:42:28.000Z
Here's everything we know as 'Stranger Things' star Maya Hawke joins the live-action ‘Magic: The Gathering’ movie in a major role
2026-11-06T06:43:51.000Z
Jenna Ortega and Natalie Portman enter the art world in ‘The Gallerist,’ with a first trailer teasing a gallery opening that takes a turn.
2026-11-05T20:08:21.000Z