John Cena to Play Lead Role in DUKE NUKEM Movie?

As Abraham in The Walking Dead, Michael Cudlitz's crew cut and sense of humor may have had some viewers thinking of the video game character Duke Nukem, but there's another actor who might be filling the character's combat boots on the big screen: John Cena.

According to EW, John Cena is in talks to play the titular role in a Duke Nukem movie that would be based on 3D Realms' video game franchise of the same name. The movie adaptation is in the works at Paramount Pictures and Platinum Dunes, with no director or screenwriter currently announced for the project.

Having first appeared in a 1991 side-scroller, the muscular soldier Duke Nukem went from being a mostly silent, serious character to a wisecracking anti-hero who saved Earth with shades, one-liners, and ammo... lots and lots of ammo.

In the original Duke Nukem, the titular character went up against the crazed Dr. Proton and his Techbot followers, but the real game-changer for the character was 1996's Duke Nukem 3D, which pitted the character against invading extraterrestrials in an overrun Los Angeles. Jon St. John was brought in to voice Duke Nukem in the first-person shooter, with George Broussard and Allen Blum giving the character a visual makeover that would match his badass attitude, which was showcased in later games such as Duke Nukem Forever.

The Duke Nukem movie is still in the early stages of development, and it remains to be seen if Cena will take on the role, but we'll keep you updated as more details are revealed. In the meantime, would you like to watch Cena chomp on a cigar, put on some sunglasses, and bring Duke Nukem to life on screen?