Roman Reigns is taking steps in his Roman Reigns WWE Hollywood transition, following the path of fellow WWE stars like The Rock, John Cena, and Dave Batista who successfully crossed over to movies. Recently, he appeared in a cameo role as an MMA Champion in the film The Pickup alongside Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson, sharing dialogue with Keke Palmer. He is also slated to portray Akuma in the upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie, with Cody Rhodes set to play Guile.
Early Film Appearances Within WWE Studios
Reigns’ initial foray into movies was an uncredited role in the WWE Studios film Countdown, where he appeared as himself warming up backstage without speaking lines. This film featured other WWE stars like Dolph Ziggler, Kane, and Rusev, the latter involved in a brief scene with Ziggler’s character. Another WWE Studios project highlighting Reigns’ involvement was the animated film The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-<a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/tag/wrestlemania/”>WrestleMania!, where he voiced both himself and a robot clone, supported by other WWE talents such as Big Show, Seth Rollins, The Usos, Sheamus, Cody Rhodes, and Vince McMahon.
Expanding Voice Roles and Animated Work
Beyond The Jetsons crossover, Roman Reigns lent his voice to the animated TV series Elena of Avalor in 2020. His second significant voice role in a feature film came with Rumble, where he portrayed Ramarilla, a giant gorilla-like monster. This project included WWE superstar Becky Lynch and athletes like Charles Barkley and Chris Eubank, and Reigns was credited as Joe Roman Anoa’i, hinting at the possibility of him using his real name in future film credits.
Notable Live-Action Film Roles Outside WWE
One of Reigns’ most high-profile movie appearances was in Hobbs & Shaw, part of the Fast & Furious franchise. He played Mateo Hobbs, brother to Luke Hobbs, a character portrayed by The Rock, who is Reigns’ real-life cousin through the Anoa’i Family. Reigns was involved mainly in action sequences during the climax of the film, with WWE promoting his role extensively in 2019.
Smaller Cameos and Unexpected Roles
In 2020, Reigns had a smaller role in the Netflix comedy The Wrong Missy, which starred David Spade and Lauren Lupkus. Though the movie was critically panned, leading to Golden Raspberry nominations for its lead actors, Reigns appeared as Gary, a tattooed tough guy who confronts Spade’s character early in the film. Despite the film’s poor reception, this cameo showcases Reigns’ expanding range in different genres.
Impact of Roman Reigns’ Hollywood Developments
Roman Reigns’ emergence in Hollywood signals a notable shift in his career trajectory, moving from WWE to more consistent acting opportunities. His varied roles across live-action and animated films reveal his versatility and willingness to explore different characters and formats. With key projects lined up like the Street Fighter adaptation, Reigns is positioning himself for a sustained presence in entertainment beyond wrestling. This transition also underscores the growing crossover appeal of WWE talent in mainstream media, enhancing visibility for both Reigns and the broader wrestling community.
