A John Cena-led adaptation of a classic 1990s’ first-person shooter video game gets a less-than-certain update from producer Brad Fuller after a significant period of silence on its development. While Cena began his career as an icon of the wrestling industry, he pivoted towards acting with The Marine in 2006, before branching out from WWE-produced productions. His career took major steps forward in 2015, as Cena took on several roles in a string of comedies, including Trainwreck, Daddy’s Home, and Sisters, alongside several voice performances in animated features.
To date, Cena has played major roles in several franchises, including Jack Burns in Bumblebee, Jakob Toretto in The Fast and the Furious franchise, and Rocksteady in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Cena’s most notable role to date is that of the antihero Peacemaker in both the DCEU and James Gunn’s rebooted continuity. He is set to reprise the role in Peacemaker season 2. Across his career thus far, Cena has not only gotten into the role of action hero, but shown vulnerability as flawed characters while showcasing impeccable comedic timing.
Duke Nukem’s Big Screen Adaptation Is Still In Development
The Movie Has Languished In Development Hell
In 1991, audiences were introduced to the over-the-top, sunglᴀsses-wearing action hero Duke Nukem in his own video game. A hero just as exaggerated and full of bravado as his name suggests, the character fought alien invaders and tried to woo women from 1991 to 2011, with a feature film having been in development for years. However, the movie has been in development hell, changing studio and directorial hands several times since its initial announcement.
While speaking with ScreenRant during SXSW to discuss his upcoming sci-fi movie The Astronaut, the producer was asked about the current status of one of the most recent iterations of the Duke Nukem movie. According to Fuller, he had no new information, but knew that the production is still in active development. Check out Fuller’s full update below:
If I had information for you, I would tell you. I just know it’s something we’re talking about and trying to figure out.
Our Take On John Cena’s Potential Duke Nukem Character
With The Right Angle, Even An Outdated Character Can Find New Life
While video game movie adaptations have seen renewed interest as seen with many recent box office successes, it can still be incredibly difficult to bring the interactive stories to the screen in a faithful way. Duke Nukem also offers a significant challenge with the nature of the character, as there are certain elements of his franchise that undeniably feel outdated. However, the character still holds some prominence in the modern media landscape, as vocal impressions of Duke’s voice actor Jon St. John saying various memes have kept him somewhat relevant.
As such, with some careful writing and adjustment of how to approach the over-the-top and satirical elements of the character, Duke Nukem could still charm audiences. Furthermore, it can be argued that Cena’s portrayal of Peacemaker already showed the ideal way to treat the character, as it established Peacemaker as an over-the-top hero before diving into the tale of a flawed man trying to break a cycle. It is clear that Cena has the talent to portray a compelling Duke, so many may be left hoping that his and Fuller’s vision can be put to screen.
Duke Nukem
- Created by
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Todd Replogle, Allen Blum III, George Broussard
- Character(s)
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Duke Nukem, General Graves, Mary Holsom, Kate Holsom, Bombshell, Dylan (Duke Nukem), Dr. Valencia, Mech Morphix
- Video Game(s)
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Duke Nukem, Duke Nukem 3D, Duke Nukem Forever, Duke Nukem: Zero Hour, Duke Nukem: Time to Kill, Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown, Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour
Summary
Duke Nukem is a video game franchise centered around its тιтular character, Duke Nukem, a muscular action hero known for his brash personality and catchphrases. The series began with 2D platformers and later transitioned into 3D first-person shooters, where Duke battles various alien threats to save Earth.
