John Cena knows and loves cars, so saying yes to Matchbox The Movie was a pleasure. The former WWE superstar and longtime automobile enthusiast hardly needed to fake his excitement when he signed on to star in the new Apple Original Films adventure, inspired by the miniature vehicles generations of children have raced across floors, furniture, and anything else that could become an imaginary road.
But talking to Cena about cars quickly becomes a conversation about people. Ahead of the movie's Oct. 9 premiere on Apple TV, Cena spoke with this reporter about the memories we attach to objects, the people who shape us, the surprisingly convincing young actor cast as his childhood self, and his own approach to masculinity and emotion. He also revisited one of the strangest chapters of his WWE career, Juan Cena, and left the door open to playing both his masked luchador alter ego and Peacemaker again.
