For the upcoming action comedy Jackpot, John Cena utilized his WWE experience to teach co-star Awkwafina how to throw a punch during a scene where she was supposed to break his nose, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
“I’ve had my nose broken in real life and this was a prosthetic, so that was fantastic. I really think the setup was fun, and when she actually did it and we did the gag, it looked great and plays well in the movie,” Cena told The Hollywood Reporter at the film’s premiere on Tuesday. He added that he instructed Awkwafina to “swing for the fences,” and she did.
Directed by Paul Feig, the film portrays a newly established Grand Lottery in California, where lottery losers can legally collect their multi-billion-dollar jackpot by killing the winner before dusk. Awkwafina plays the jackpot winner on the run, with Cena as her collaborator.
Discussing their chemistry, Cena shared, “She was playing an anxious character who didn’t know what the hell was going on, and I get to be a peaceful, soothing voice of reason. These are both strong attributes in our wheelhouse, so we got to be ourselves and inject humor into the situation.”
Feig expressed his confidence in their collaboration, noting his longtime admiration for Cena. “The first time I spoke to him, he said, ‘Don’t think you have to make me look cool.’ I loved that, as I appreciate comedy stars who are willing to take risks and look silly. Cena did just that.”
Feig continued, “I have the utmost respect for the cast and crew. Their work has entertained me greatly, and I wanted to convey how much it means to me. It’s important to express how their work has impacted my life.”
Jackpot!, which also stars Simu Liu, has been compared to comedic versions of The Purge or John Wick. However, Feig emphasizes that the film is intended to have a more good-natured tone. “I wanted it to be like a Jackie Chan movie, which is my favorite modern comedic filmmaker, as well as the Pink Panther films, which are very physical.”
Jackpot hits theaters on Thursday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
(With ANI Inputs)
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