'Watchmen' show rumors: John Cena to play Doctor Manhattan?

Doctor Manhattan as shown in the "Before Watchmen" advertisement from DC YouTube/DC

Fans of the "Watchmen" might be able to see John Cena in the upcoming HBO show, as the actor is rumored to play as the omnipotent Doctor Manhattan in the title.

The 40-year-old wrestler-actor has posted on his Instagram account the original logo and poster art of the Watchmen, and this made fans of both Cena and the "Watchmen" to assume that the wrestler may actually have a role in the upcoming "Watchmen" series by HBO.

A post shared by John Cena (@johncena) on

Cena actually shared two images related to the "Watchmen." The first is the one mentioned above, which was also The Comedian's badge in the graphic novel, while the second one is an artwork of Doctor Manhattan wearing a suit. This then fueled fan belief that Cena may be assuming the role of the said superhero since the show is now being prepared by HBO.

A post shared by John Cena (@johncena) on

That said, Screen Rant suggests that Cena may have trouble with his portrayal of Doctor Manhattan, especially since the character is quite complex, having to balance his ennui and superiority complex. While Cena has had a lot of acting experience, most of them were notable for their comedic value. So far, the only similarity between Cena and Doctor Manhattan is the physique.

Also, this would not be the first time Cena was rumored to play a superhero role, the first one being Shazam back in September, which turned out to be untrue. There is a chance that this rumor might also meet the same fate as that one, as there is no casting call from HBO for "Watchmen" yet.

For those unfamiliar, Doctor Manhattan is considered as the most powerful character not only in Watchmen but also in DC universe, having full control of atoms and being nigh unkillable as well. He is the only member of the Watchmen who has actual superpowers. His powers came from his disintegration in a nuclear experiment back when he was just a human scientist. Despite being one of the most powerful beings, Doctor Manhattan cares little for ordinary humans and has even discarded his own humanity after he got his powers.

Whether Cena can do the character justice remains to be seen, though "Watchmen" does not have an expected release yet.

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