Cody Rhodes has spent much of his career mastering the particular demands of professional wrestling: performing live, adapting in real time, telling stories through physicality, and doing it all in front of an audience that expects both athleticism and emotion. Now, the WWE star is beginning to take those storytelling instincts into a different arena.
Rhodes recently reflected on his earliest experiences working in film, including his cameo in The Naked Gun and his role in the upcoming Street Fighter movie. While he made clear that his screen career is still at an early stage, Rhodes described the opportunity to work opposite Liam Neeson for one day on The Naked Gun as an especially inviting introduction to a new side of the entertainment business.
For Rhodes, the move is not simply about adding another job title to his résumé. He framed acting as a chance to continue telling stories without relying on one of wrestling's most familiar and demanding tools: falling down.
“Honestly, just having come into this very new, wanting to tell stories, but not always wanting to fall down as we do in pro wrestling,” Rhodes said.
For more background on this topic, read Cody Rhodes Places Randy Orton in His Elite ‘Golden Circle’ of Wrestling Greats.
That distinction speaks to the balancing act facing any wrestler who crosses into film. Wrestling and acting are closely connected in some obvious ways. Both require performers to inhabit characters, understand camera placement, communicate emotion clearly, and make audiences invest in conflict. Yet feature-film production comes with a very different pace and environment from WWE television or premium live events. A wrestler can have only one opportunity to deliver a crucial moment in front of a live crowd; a movie set is more segmented, more technical, and built around repeated takes.
Rhodes said his early projects have given him a favorable impression of that world. In particular, he pointed to Street Fighter, which is scheduled to arrive next month, as a project that aims to respect the long history of the video-game franchise while giving it a contemporary identity.
Rhodes Sees Street Fighter As A Project For Every Generation Of Fan
The Street Fighter name carries substantial weight across multiple forms of media. The franchise has existed through arcade games, home-console releases, animated adaptations, graphic novels, and the 1994 live-action movie. That long legacy also means that fans can have very different ideas of what a successful adaptation should look like.
Rhodes praised director Katsao Sakurai for finding a way to address that challenge. He said the film has something to offer fans familiar with the many different iterations of the property, while also telling a story that feels distinct to the current era.
“Street Fighter, which is coming out next month, is so good,” Rhodes said. “Katsao Sakurai did such an amazing job. I think for fans of all of its lore, whether it was the graphic novels, whether it was the anime, whether it was the old movie, whether it was just the games, he’s done something for everybody and told the story unique for our time.”
Rhodes called the production a “beautiful experience,” a notable endorsement from someone whose wrestling career has been shaped by major creative choices and an awareness of legacy. As the son of Dusty Rhodes and a performer who has built one of modern wrestling's most recognizable career narratives, Cody Rhodes has long operated in spaces where history matters. Street Fighter presents another established universe with a passionate audience and decades of expectations.
His comments also suggest that the film is more than a brief detour between WWE commitments. Rhodes spoke about it as a potentially major project and as a meaningful part of what could become a larger acting path. He did not identify any additional roles or productions, but said he is enthusiastic about what might come after Street Fighter.
A One-Day Call For The Naked Gun Became A Memorable Opportunity
Before joining the Street Fighter production, Rhodes had the chance to appear in The Naked Gun. The commitment was limited to a single day on set, but it required him to make a decision around the realities of a busy schedule. Rhodes recalled discussing the opportunity with his wife, Brandi Rhodes, particularly because arranging the travel for a one-day shoot was not easy.
Still, the chance to share the set with Neeson made the decision an easy one in the end. Rhodes said he approached Brandi about whether he should take the appearance, describing it as “one day” and “kind of hard to get back,” while acknowledging that it could be an amazing experience.
Brandi's response centered on a role that has remained especially memorable for many fans of Neeson's work: Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
“She actually said, ‘Well, I mean, he’s a Jedi,’” Rhodes recalled.
Rhodes laughed at the perspective that guided their conversation. Rather than initially thinking of Neeson's expansive dramatic filmography, they looked at him through the lens of Star Wars. As Rhodes put it, they were thinking, “oh, it’s Qui-Gon Jinn. He’s a Jedi.”
That was enough to convince him. Rhodes accepted the booking and found Neeson welcoming during their time together. He said the two were able to exchange some banter, and he appreciated seeing the completed film with his own bit included.
“He was so gracious, and we were able to banter a little bit,” Rhodes said. “Then to come and see the movie and just have that bit be in there, it was a really warm way to enter this world.”
The description is revealing because Rhodes did not frame the cameo solely in terms of its visibility. Instead, he emphasized the atmosphere of the set and the reception he received from a veteran actor. For a performer entering a new medium, a brief role can still be significant if it offers confidence, practical experience, and a positive first impression of the people involved.
Why The Transition Matters For A WWE Headliner
Rhodes is hardly the first WWE talent to explore acting, but every transition unfolds differently. Some wrestlers pursue Hollywood only after stepping away from full-time competition. Others work around their wrestling schedules and use smaller appearances to develop experience. Rhodes' current route appears to be the latter: continuing as a major WWE figure while gradually expanding into projects beyond the ring.
That approach has obvious appeal. Rhodes remains deeply associated with WWE's biggest stories and its most prominent events, but screen work offers a different creative outlet. It can also allow him to show audiences another range without changing the central appeal of his wrestling persona. The same performer who can connect with a stadium crowd through a dramatic entrance or a live promo can explore a more controlled, collaborative style of storytelling on a film set.
There are challenges, naturally. Acting requires preparation, consistency and patience, while blockbuster properties can bring intense scrutiny from established fan communities. Rhodes' remarks about Street Fighter demonstrate that he understands the importance of the franchise's history. His warm recollection of The Naked Gun, meanwhile, indicates that he values the chance to learn from experienced people in the field rather than presenting himself as an instant expert.
It is also notable that Rhodes is entering film through projects with clear popular-culture identities. The Naked Gun is a recognizable comedy brand, while Street Fighter is one of gaming's most enduring franchises. Those environments can be useful for a first-time or emerging actor because they come with established worlds, tones and audience interest, even as they demand careful execution.
“Potential Big Projects” Ahead
Rhodes did not reveal the specific opportunities he may have lined up after Street Fighter. He did, however, sound optimistic about the possibilities created by the work he has already done.
“Now we’ve got some potential big projects with Street Fighter and beyond that I really am excited about,” Rhodes said.
For now, Street Fighter stands as the clearest next milestone in Rhodes' screen career. His comments offer a glimpse at how he views the journey: a newcomer eager to tell stories, grateful for a welcoming day alongside Neeson, and excited to be involved in a project tied to a globally recognizable franchise.
Wrestling fans have watched Rhodes repeatedly embrace new chapters in his professional life, from reinvention and reinvestment in his own identity to a return that placed him near the top of WWE. His acting career remains at its beginning, but he is approaching it with the same awareness of audience, character and story that has defined his work in the ring. If The Naked Gun was the warm entry point Rhodes described, Street Fighter could be the project that shows how far that next chapter can go.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.