John Cena has played a lot of heroes on screen already, but his most heroic role is one fans might have missed. After becoming one of the biggest stars in the wrestling world, Cena launched his movie career and eventually showed his unexpected talent as a comedic actor. Of course, he’s also an actor destined for the action genre.

While Cena’s wrestling career started as a heel, and his role as Peacemaker in the DCU proves he can play complicated protagonists, his likability on-screen leads to him playing the hero more often than not. However, when it comes to the character who is the best cinematic hero of Cena’s career, it is one that has been largely overlooked.

John Cena Voices Ferdinand In The 2017 Movie

Cena Voices The Peaceful And Kind-Hearted Bull

John Cena expanded his movie roles into family-friendly territory by voicing the тιтular character in the animated adventure Ferdinand. Based on the 1936 children’s book The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, the movie follows Ferdinand, a gentle bull who contends with being viewed as an aggressive animal.

Cena’s movie career was still picking up as he was beginning to gain a reputation as a strong comedic actor, thanks to scene-stealing roles in Trainwreck and Sisters. Not only did Ferdinand mark his first lead role in an animated film, but it was one of his first lead roles of any kind.

The movie earned a solid critical response, earning 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, and went on to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. However, the movie was largely overlooked by audiences, with Ferdinand underperforming at the box office and earning a reputation as one of the underrated animated movies of the 2010s.

Why Ferdinand Is John Cena’s Most Heroic Character

Ferdinand Has The Bravery To Stand Up For What He Believes

John Cena’s performance in Ferdinand remains one of his most endearing. Cena’s own good nature and kind persona shine through in the role, mirroring the animated character as this intimidating, large presence who proves to be gentle and thoughtful. It is that performance that helps make Ferdinand such a great hero.

Cena has played heroes who have saved the world, like in Peacemaker. He has also played villains who become heroes, like in the Fast and Furious franchise. Most recently, in the action movie Heads of State, he even played the heroic President of the United States. However, none of these characters had the heroic strength of Ferdinand.

Ferdinand is a bull who everyone expects to be the destructive and angry animal his reputation suggests. Ferdinand has the bravery to stand up to that perception, be himself, and refuse to fight. When he is continuously pressured into bullfighting, Ferdinand stands by his principles with grace and kindness.

Though he is a pacifist, Ferdinand is not a coward. Not only does he face bullies without backing down, but instead of escaping, he goes back to warn the other bulls of the danger they’re in. When he is finally forced into the ring, his refusal to be violent wins over the crowd and saves his life.

Many action heroes face down danger through a show of force, which can be very effective as well as entertaining. However, John Cena‘s Ferdinand has a more attainable heroism, standing up for himself and what he believes in while inspiring others to do the same.