I could have even played Bumblebee's spare tyre: John Cena on starring in 'Transformers' spin-off

Bumblebee, a bright yellow petite Volkswn Beetle would have been ar sight to behold had John Cena been cast as affable Autobot's 'spare tyre', a role professional wrestler-actor says he would have accepted in a heartbeat. But director Travis Knight had something bigger planned for actor.

Cena plays Lieutenant Jack Burns, a hardened military officer who has a grudge against Transformers. film is fronted by Hailee Steinfeld, who plays Charlie Wilson, a headstrong vulnerable teenr who befriends Bumblebee. actor said script of film, penned by Christina Hodson, was like an unputdownable book and he was er to feature in film.

"I read it and immediately it was like joke's on him and him (Knight and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura). I could have played Bumblebee's spare tyre. I just wanted to be in movie. And in initial conversation with Travis we were able to converse about passion we both had for movies," Cena told PTI when asked about his constant attempt to break his established im.

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WWE star, who was here to promote film, said he wants to be a part of good projects. He said despite initial failures in movie business, passion for storytelling kept him going back for more.

"I just want to do good stuff. And before I was thrown into a lot of action movies 'coz it was a good business model. It wasn't a good business model 'coz those movies were failures. My heart was in live entertainment business. And n after years in live entertainment business, I asked myself, 'Why do I keep going back?' It wasn't falls, it's ability to tell stories. So, I was grateful and lucky eugh to get like ar chance in movies. And I gravitated towards good stuff... I read it and felt like 'You kw what, I'm gonna do this.'"

Cena, 41, said Amy Schumer's romcom "Trainwreck" (2015) was a turning point in his career.

"It was 'Trainwreck'. And after that, I was lucky eugh to ride away. It was an opportunity for me, y were all small stuff, small parts. But like 'Whoa! This is a good read. I'll do this'. And n 'Bumblebee' came by," he said.

actor said he does t kw what his next role would be, maybe he would play "a nerd". He said he does t view parts he has played - be it his Hollywood debut " Marine", critically-acclaimed "Blockers" or first "Transformers" spin-off, "Bumblebee". He sees m as a good read.

"Maybe, I don't kw. I kw that I'm gonna love when I read it. Everyone has got ir process but for me, it is super important... To me, it's all about doing what you love and loving what you do. I'm trying to take some chances. But I don't view m as chances because ( scripts are like books that) I can't put down," he said.

Cena said he is ready to rap with audience and critics till y are convinced to give his films ar go, even when y first don't like m.

"Making movies is a long process. Travis said it took us two-and-a-half years with 'Bumblebee'. But you're t done when you're done. You have to go out and see it," he said. 

"So if you don't like it and you do it for business of it all and I've been re, it makes this stuff tough. But when you really do like it, even when we are t playing with great stuff, because you guys like it. But even if you don't, I'll rap with you all day and hopefully, you'll wind up going 'Hmm maybe I was wrong, I'm gonna check it out again'," he quipped. 

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In a press conference, actor hoped "Bumblebee" becomes a tremendous global success and something that is t limited to United States or China - two major markets for Hollywood franchise films. 

"I think this is a story that resonates with all audiences and due to fact that 'Bumblebee' can't speak, a lot of it transcends langus and it will be translated," he said.

film also features Jorge Lendeborg Jr, John Ortiz, Jason Drucker, and Pamela Adlon. Releasing on January 4, 2019, Bumblebee - A Paramount Pictures movie will be exclusively distributed in India by Viacom18 Motion Pictures.