Making my What the Fuck??? file for the day is this story from THR that Patricia Clarkson and Danny Glover have signed on to star alongside WWE Champion John Cena(???) in WWE Films next feature, Brother's Keeper. When I first read that I did a double take and checked my ears for leakage. Clarkson and Glover are legit actors. Clarkson one of the best female leads in the business. What the fuck is she doing here?
The PG rated family drama involves a teenage boy, who tries to reunite his mother(Clarkson) with his estranged older brother(Cena) by joining his high school wrestling team.
Mel Damski, who has a list of TV credits a mile long, is slated to direct.
Well, I look at this two ways: This could be the first real break out film for the WWE, which has put together an impressive list of duds so far, starting with John Cena's debut, The Marine. Depending on the way it's marketed, I can see real potential in the simple, heartwarming premise.
Or, this could be an opportunity for everyone to see just how bad of an actor Cena really is when he actually has to go toe-to-toe with a real actress like Patricia Clarkson. If Cena looks like a goon and can't measure up, it'll show everyone once and for all that these wrestling actors aren't to be taken seriously unless your name is Dwayne Johnson. Funny thing is, Cena used to complain about The Rock leaving wrestling to pursue his acting career, and now Cena gets a chance to show what he's got in something that doesn't involve explosions. I'll be curious to see the results.
