You'll Never See This Potential TV Mass Effect Commander Shepard Pick Coming

"Takin' over Earth and still kickin' in Uranus"

by · Push Square

With Fast & Furious 9 writer Daniel Casey signed on to pen Amazon's upcoming Mass Effect TV adaptation, things could really go in any direction. One future we never would have predicted, however, was the potential inclusion of one John Anthony Felix Cena, presumably as Commander Shepard, who you may know from wrestling, movies, rap, and Overwatch.

Followers of the actor on Instagram, TheGamer noticed Cena posting Mass Effect art to his 20 million followers recently, which does seem somewhat unusual. The outlet notes the close timing; either Cena is a massive Mass Effect fan, or the celebrity is somehow connected to the show. Even more intriguingly, Cena actually plays the villain in Fast 9, so he clearly has a working relationship with Casey. Cena and Shepard even share the same canonical first name.

Coincidence, or fate?

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We suppose someone has to be Shepard, and Cena could potentially fit the bill. Or he could as easily lend his voice to a CGI Wrex, or not be involved at all. What do you think? Could you see John Cena as John Shepard in Amazon's Mass Effect adaptation? Wear your favourite pair of jorts into the comments section below.

[source instagram.com, via thegamer.com]

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About Khayl Adam

Khayl Adam is Push Square's roving Australian correspondent, a reporter tasked with scouring the internet for the richest, most succulent PlayStation stories. With five years of experience as a freelance journalist and mercenary wordsmith, RPGs are his first great love, but strategy and tactics games are a close second, genres in which he is only too happy to specialize.

Comments 29

FemShep > BroShep any day of the week. Both are good but BroShep’s incredibly awkward delivery is unintentionally hilarious at times and just wouldn’t translate to TV. FemShep would be a better outcome for a potential show.

Right now I'm hoping this project flounders as well, so much about this smells funky.

Only issue if John Cena plays the character is that you wouldn't be able to see him 😅

Seriously though, think he could do a great job.

If he does do this, I can't imagine filming will begin until 2026 as next year he is having a final WWE retirement tour with a full schedule of dates so would presumably be tricky to fit around

Please please whoever’s up there and listening, if you do just one thing for me in this all too brief life, make it so John Cana plays all the crew - ‘Nutty Professor’ style.

Just make it a musical featuring Mordin Solus.

Cena is a pretty good comedic actor but that’s as far as I’d go. Not really expecting anything from this anyway.

One of the keys to Mass Effect's appeal is it's special forces flavour. Cena could pull that off. Just don't play Shepherd, be another N7

I think that adapting Shep is a terrible idea. He has no character beyond what the player gives him which means that he will never satisfy the bulk of viewers. And even saying "he" is up for debate.

Very worried for this. They should have just made an original story.

I'm amazed if they are going for the male Shep in an age where TV shows are 'diversifying'. My money is still on a lady being the lead, which is fair in this case because Fem Shep is the better option. I'd pick Gina Carano for the part if she's still not ostracised for being unfairly dismissed by Disney.

There is no chance this show will be good. Look what happened to Halo. It's like they hated it so much they intentionally made it insulting. Mass Effect is just being abused at this point. It's bad enough the new game will be a fail, but now this. Just let it die already.

If the show ends up with interwoven comedy threads, then maybe.
But if it's supposed to follow the games (which is HIGHLY recommended if it wants to have any kind of success) then he ain't a good fit.
Not for Sheppard anyway.
As Wrex maybe? That would be fun to see.

Just wait until he starts giving everyone he has an argument with the FU!
(Wrestling reference)

In episode 34 he gets beaten silly in under 3minutes, by a character called the (ship) Graveyard Keeper.

Having the writer of Fast & Furious 9 sure will be an improvement from Bioware's own.

Would be a perfect pick, they don't need a master Shakespearian actor.

@nessisonett I've always preferred FemShep as a Renegade and MaleShep as Paragon. Mark Meer is just so overly earnest it fits the sunshine and rainbows route imo, though he doesn't work as well in Renegade. Whereas Jennifer Hale is brilliant at shutting people down and being dominant... but she's great at both really.

First, they should be doing FemShep. Everyone knows this.

Second, if John Cena is in this I'm going to be so sour. Mass Effect is perfect for a television show. Amazon already made a mess of Yakuza. Let's not ruin Mass Effect.

If Cena plays Shepard I’m out. I’m really not a fan of his at all. I can deal with him playing Wrex or another side character, but not Shep!

@riceNpea That's one fem Shep that I could get behind. Controversy aside, she has the chops, build, and demeanor to be convincing in the role.

John Cena is getting up there, and it's pretty evident - as a VA for Wrex, he'd be a lot of fun. As Shepard, I'm not a fan. Maybe 15 years or so ago. Shoot, I could see Cena playing a decent Illusive Man.

John Cena can't act for toffee, Jason Stratham would be a better choice

@riceNpea "I'd pick Gina Carano for the part if she's still not ostracised for being unfairly dismissed by Disney"

Good shout 🔥🔥🔥👌

There are other male characters in the series. Like a lot of them. Why are we assuming he'd be Shepard? I think he'd make a fine Garrus.

@IntrepidWombat Cena is far too old for the role. If he's cast as Shep it's purely for brand recognition and not suitability.

@riceNpea unfortunate what happened to Carano. But she'd not get a lead role in a production such as this anyway. They tried her a few times as a lead and it just doesn't work. Although, I'd love to see her back on TV and film.

Why is he supposed to act if we can't even see him?

@IntrepidWombat My favourite thing about the anti-woke crowd is the delusion required to pretend that Gina Carano was ever a good actress.

@nessisonett Your very favorite thing about a group of people nobody brought up until you did in your comment - your very favorite thing about that group - is that they have a subjective opinion on an actress that you disagree with? That's downright fascinating. Tell me more.

Personally I'm hoping for Danny McBride.

@nessisonett BroShep is the only Shep, but only because of the comical delivery. FemShep makes ME feel like it's taking itself seriously. BroShep always feels like a total nerdball in space, which is half of the fun.

@themightyant nailed it though. Broshep is like a big puppydog with a gun with Meer's VA. Hale seems like the only viable renegade option because Meer sounds like Mr. Rogers saying he's going to mug you.

I’ve said it before. I’ll continue to say it. Bring everyone in who made Farscape and acted in Farscape. 🤷‍♂️

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