LONDON – John Cena and Idris Elba embark on a wild friendship journey in the action-adventure comedy Heads Of State.
American actor Cena plays Hollywood action hero turned US President Will Derringer, while English actor Elba stars as the experienced and cranky British Prime Minister Sam Clarke, an army veteran. When a tense meeting between the two disparate leaders is followed by an attack that threatens to blow up the world order, they must come together to save the day.
The pair, who also executive produced the movie that is showing on Prime Video, previously worked together on the 2021 superhero film The Suicide Squad.
“Honestly, our time on screen is effortless. He brings the best out of me and, in his words, I try to do my best to provide an environment where he can shine,” Cena said at Heads Of State’s London premiere on July 1.
“I love the friendship nature of this film,” he added.
John Cena plays Hollywood action hero turned US President Will Derringer.
PHOTO: AFP
The movie is directed by Russian film-maker and musician Ilya Naishuller (Nobody, 2021), who said Cena, 48, and Elba, 52, brought a realness to their roles.
“They feed off each other as any good couple would, and they know how to argue together in such a way where this is the perfect combination of the American happy-go-lucky, optimistic president and the prime minister who is real about the job and how difficult it is,” said Naishuller, 41, adding he set out to make a summer blockbuster in the vein of the buddy action comedies of the 1980s and 90s.
Idris Elba (left) and John Cena in Heads Of State.
PHOTO: PRIME VIDEO
“The goal was, I want to do an hour and 45 (minutes) of the highest quality entertainment I can do and just do a crowd-pleaser and make sure that the people sitting at home on July the 4th are going to be united and having a great time,” he said, referencing the United States’ Independence Day.
Heads Of State also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the role of the pun-loving top MI6 agent Noel Bisset.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas attends the Heads Of State premiere on June 24.
PHOTO: AFP
“It was really different, because it was a comedy. Most of the action I’ve done has been in drama and thrillers,” the 42-year-old Indian actress said.
“I mean, listen, I love a good pun. You’ve got to be smart to be punny.” REUTERS
Heads Of State is showing on Prime Video.