January 18, 2005
WWE Films
We all knew this was coming. Wrestling Czar Vince McMahon has set up his own movie company called WWE Films (appropriate name). Apparently the company will make movies with budgets up to $20 million and will (surprise surprise) feature his wrestling superstars.
Now, before we all poo-poo this idea, keep in mind that Vince McMahon single handedly turned professional wrestling into the multi-billion dollar entertainment industry that it is today. He knows an awful lot about entertaining people. We should expect no less from his films.
Also keep in mind that wrestlers are by definition actors. All of them playing a role (and most of them will play several different ones during their careers) in front of millions of people every single week. Is that the same thing as REAL acting... no, it's not. But it's a hell of a lot closer to the real thing than 50 Cent.
The Good folks at Monsters and Critics offer us this tid bit from Variety:
Steve Austin will make his screen starring debut later this year in the WWE-financed "The Condemned," a Rob and Andrew Hedden-scripted drama that casts Austin as a framed ex-cop given a reprieve from death row when chosen to compete on a fight-to-the-finish reality show.Having mentioned all of the positive things above, let me also say this. The only thing that worries me about this whole experiment is that fact that it has "XFL" written all over it. The XFL had some fantastic ideas for presenting the game of football, but ultimately it crashed and burned. It will be interesting to see if this produces some fun cheesy action entertainment... or another total failure and embarrassment (ie XFL) for Vince McMahon while venturing outside of the squared circle.McMahon has also clinched a deal with 20th Century Fox to distribute his first film, "The Marine", an action flick starring John Cena. In addtition he has signed up with Lions Gate Films for "Goodnight", a horror starring villainous wrestler Kane.
Posted by John Campea at January 18, 2005 11:01 PM
Comments
Posted by: Richard at January 19, 2005 03:15 AM
Does sound very running man like, but could be interesting. There are a few Wrestlers that could make good money from making films (Kane, Jericho, Austin, Taker). Granted they are only destined for certain roles (evil henchmen, maverick cop/army/marine) but then Arnie & Sly made great careers from these roles, with very little acting talent.
Posted by: David Terry at January 19, 2005 03:24 AM
I have always thought that the WWE should go into movies. Ever since the Rock came out with his second movie "Walking Tall" and now look the Rock is a serious actor. Stone Cold has already starred in many Nash Bridges tv shows and like you said he has been acting his entire life. That is what wrestlers do they act.
Posted by: Dustin at January 22, 2005 11:38 AM
The XFL crashed and burned because he was trying at REAL sports, not entertainment, which is something WWE also incorporates (ie sports entertainment). Being that movies are meant to entertain, I see no problem here. Pluse 2 minor notes are that 1)Nothing beats the NFL, so trying a football league will NEVER cut it, however 2)Movies aren't defined by who makes them, everyone makes good ones, everyone makes bad ones. I can't wait.
Posted by: Zach at February 12, 2005 12:19 AM
I think this is a good move on Vince's part. Plus, being a huge wrestling fan, I can't wait to see Stone Cold again. I think that with the WWE fans alone these movies should make money. Once again look at The Rock if you don't believe that wrestlers as actors doesn't work.
Posted by: Wren at March 7, 2005 03:14 PM
I just played the Smackdown VS Raw video game for the PS2, and you may be wondering what that has to do with the WWE Films idea. The game featured voice overs by the superstars, and saying that that the quality of the voiceover was a heap of crap is an understatement. I think the Rock is a rarity in the wrestling industry; wrestler that can act. John Cena may be able to cut it, but i have high doubts on Stone Cold.
Posted by: Jeff Kang at March 13, 2005 07:35 PM
Smackdown v.s. Raw is a great game.I play it all the time and have beat it many times. HBK rules!
Posted by: Kyle McElgunn at April 6, 2005 10:20 AM
i agree that the voice overs in the game was crap (with the exception of few superstars who gave their heaart into the voice acting) but i think that was only so because the superstars didn't give their hearts into it. acting in films is different. i think there are lots of wwe superstars who could pull it off. cena, eddie, kane, orton, jbl and triple h have all impressed me with how they give life to their characters. i only hope that wwe could acquire great production teams for its films.
am i the only one, or is there any one else out there that thinks vince mcmahon could be great as a film actor??
Posted by: gary bautista at May 3, 2005 03:48 AM
I want xx movies of female wrestlers
Posted by: nadir at May 6, 2005 05:35 AM
john cena is soooooooooo cute. and sexy. i really luv him.
Posted by: Noorjahan at May 10, 2005 06:34 PM
john cena is soooooooooo cute. and sexy. i really luv him.
Posted by: Noorjahan at May 10, 2005 06:34 PM
That movies suck stone cold should come back and do what he does best and that is open up cans of whoop ass on everybody i no he cant wrestle but just come back. And as for kane and john cena they should do ok.Rock is doing good to. stone cold rules
Posted by: stonecoldfan1 at May 13, 2005 11:04 PM
For those of you that didn't know Vince was the Executive Producer for walking tall and the Scorpion King. Those of you who don't think Vince can handle the movie buisness need to reconsider your position and remember that he is in the entertainment buisness and he loves to make money. And for the people that think that Steve Austin can't act just wait and see the condemned he will blow you away.
Posted by: madman6699 at May 27, 2005 03:39 PM
i wanna no when the movie comes out i cant wait until it does but i wanna see some XXX films with torrie
Posted by: Alex at May 28, 2005 08:54 PM
i wanna see some XXX films with torrie, stacy, Nidia, Lita, trish, and jackie in the same sceane with each other. But i cant wait to see kanes movie eather
Posted by: Alex at May 28, 2005 08:58 PM
i wanna see some XXX films with torrie, stacy, Nidia, Lita, trish, and jackie in the same sceane with each other. But i cant wait to see kanes movie eather and i wanna see taker in a movie 2
Posted by: Alex at May 28, 2005 09:00 PM
hi
i want to
Posted by: joseph lama at June 13, 2005 02:51 AM
hello
i like john cena. and i hate calito thats cool isnt and i hate all of them expect john cena, 619 and hurricane and his friend.word life .you cant see me
Posted by: joseph lama at June 13, 2005 02:53 AM
hi
word life.its cool ya.
Posted by: joseph lama at June 13, 2005 02:58 AM
WWE The Film :
The History of the WWWF WWF WWE
How the Industry became a huge company
This should be a great movie to : With Muhammad Hassan as the Terrorist and in the Good Role we Put The Rock or Hulk Hogan or Stone Cold.
The WWE has other great actors Like : Kurt Angle - Shawn Michaels - Chris Jericho - Rob Van Dam ( a movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme should be great :oP) - The Big Show & Edge
Posted by: 3-iIi at July 6, 2005 05:40 PM
MY FAVOURITE WWE SUPERSTAR IS KANE.HIS DEADLY IMPACT ON HIS OPPONENTS ATTRACTS ME LOT.HE LOOKS SO COOOOOL WITHOUT HIS MASK.
i wanna see some XXX films with torrie, stacy, Nidia, Lita, trish, and jackie in the same sceane with each other.
Posted by: nik at September 29, 2005 05:56 AM
i wana see xxx movies of all female sstars
Posted by: jony at October 24, 2005 02:07 PM
Isn't that just Running Man all over again? Still, that wasn't done particularly well, so perhaps they might follow the Manhunt formula.