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John Cena might be in a Duke Nukem movie

Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes producing

Duke Nukem 3D art 1440
Michael McWhertor is a journalist with more than 17 years of experience covering video games, technology, movies, TV, and entertainment.

Beloved WWE wrestler and burgeoning actor John Cena may star in the titular role of a Duke Nukem movie adaptation, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. Cena is said to be in negotiations to star as loudmouthed action hero amalgam Duke Nukem in the project.

Paramount picked up the rights to the Duke Nukem franchise with Platinum Dunes, Michael Bay’s production company, set to produce. Platinum Dunes is responsible for lower budget horror series like The Purge and Ouija, as well as remakes of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

John Cena
Getty Images

The Duke Nukem movie sounds like it’s in its most nascent stage; neither a director or writer are attached to the project, according to THR.

News of Nukem’s film adaptation does not sit well with the man most closely associated with the character, voice actor Jon St. John.

“Don’t let Hollywood and Michael Bay kill my character!” St. John said on Facebook. “Video game movies that are not CG are generally not very good. An R rated CG would be the best way to maintain the king’s character. I’ve been Duke since 1995 and would like it to stay that way. Please share and tweet this with me. We won’t let this happen!”

Duke Nukem first appeared in Apogee Software’s 1991 side-scrolling platforming game, Duke Nukem. The character’s most recent appearance is 2011’s Duke Nukem Forever, which was developed by 3D Realms and Gearbox Software

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