WWE: The Book of Peyton Manning and John Cena leads to Ferdinand
The careers and lives of two of the greatest in their chosen profession — former NFL QB Peyton Manning and current WWE Superstar John Cena — are very similar, leading to their latest endeavor, Ferdinand. These renaissance men are voice actors, playing bulls in this heartwarming animated comedy adventure, which hits theaters nationwide on Friday, Dec. 15.
WWE Superstar, TV host, producer, entrepreneur and actor John Cena visited Miami recently to promote the movie Ferdinand (Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox Animation).
Cena (voicing Ferdinand the bull) leads an all-star cast.
The star-studded cast also includes Kate McKinnon, Anthony Anderson, Bobby Cannavale, Gina Rodriguez, Miguel Angel Silvestre, David Tennant, Flula Borg, Jerrod Carmichael, Daveed Diggs, Gabriel Iglesias, Juanes, Boris Kodjoe, Karla Martínez, Jeremy Sisto, Sally Phillips, and NFL legend Peyton Manning.
Manning voices Guapo the bull. Guapo (meaning handsome in Spanish) acts like he’s brimming with confidence, but under that brash exterior, he’s really a bundle of nerves.
“Peyton Manning is one of those names that transcends sport,” Cena said. “He truly is. He sets the bar for how to behave on and off the field.”
Hey, being from Massachusetts, would Cena have liked to work with that other NFL quarterback, a rival of Manning from the New England area?
“It would be fitting for Tom Brady to be Guapo,” Cena said with a smile. “Tom Brady, that suave, handsome guy who everybody thinks got it figured out, but buckles under pressure — except for that last part — but Peyton did a great job, and I certainly admire him as a human being; so I was glad he could be part of the movie.”
Cena’s right. Brady does not buckle under pressure. Neither does Manning nor Cena.
Cena not only shares a film with Manning but plenty more as these two athletes, entertainers, businessmen and all-around good guys have much in common.
The Book of Manning and Cena
John Cena excelled in football growing up, in high school, in college; Peyton Manning excelled in football growing up, in high school, in college
John Cena starred in his profession (pro wrestling), winning multiple titles and awards; Peyton Manning starred in his profession (pro football), winning multiple titles and awards
John Cena is a future pro Hall of Famer; Peyton Manning is a future pro Hall of Famer
John Cena is a fan of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots; Peyton Manning was a rival of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots
John Cena was featured in a pro sports video game; Peyton Manning was featured in a pro sports video game
John Cena’s father was in pro wrestling; Peyton Manning’s father was in pro football
John Cena (40) is in his early 40s; Peyton Manning (41) is in his early 40s
John Cena is very active in charity; Peyton Manning is very active in charity
John Cena is a brand ambassador; Peyton Manning is a brand ambassador
John Cena is involved in cars; Peyton Manning in car insurance
John Cena participated in the Daytona 500; Peyton Manning the Indianapolis 500
John Cena was in “Scooby Doo” and “The Flintstones”; Peyton Manning “The Simpsons”
John Cena hosted “Saturday Night Live”; Peyton Manning hosted SNL
John Cena hosted the “ESPYs”; Peyton Manning hosted the “ESPYs”
John Cena hosted the “Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards”; Peyton Manning has kids
John Cena stars in the heartwarming animated comedy adventure “Ferdinand;” Peyton Manning co-stars in Ferdinand
John Cena will be in New Orleans for WWE WrestleMania 34; Peyton Manning is from New Orleans
Could we see a Ferdinand and Guapo reunion at WrestleMania 34?
Cena answered: “It is WrestleMania, and you know what they say about WWE…Never say never.”
Next: Predicting All 30 Royal Rumble Entrants
About the movie Ferdinand
Ferdinand tells the story of a giant bull (voiced by John Cena) with a big heart. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can’t judge a bull by its cover.
The movie is from Blue Sky Studios and Carlos Saldanha, the director of Rio and inspired by the beloved book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson.