Cody Rhodes is looking to keep expanding his résumé beyond the WWE ring.
Rhodes has become one of the most recognizable figures in professional wrestling over the past several years, but his ambitions have increasingly extended into film work as well. After appearing in The Naked Gun last year, Rhodes is set to play Guile in Street Fighter, which arrives later this week. The role places him in one of the most recognizable video-game adaptations in development and offers another major platform for the WWE star outside wrestling.
While discussing what could be next for his acting career in an interview with ExtraTV, Rhodes suggested fans should expect further movement in the year ahead. He did not announce a specific project, but he made clear that he wants to pursue more opportunities and continue developing as a performer in a different medium.
“I think you will, and I think this is going to be a good year for announcements and a good year for doing more,” Rhodes said.
For more background on this topic, read Roman Reigns Says Street Fighter Fight With Andrew Koji Felt Like WWE.
That answer naturally leaves room for speculation about how many projects may be in the works, though Rhodes did not attach names, dates, or commitments to any potential future roles. What he did communicate was an eagerness to keep working in film rather than treating his recent appearances as one-off diversions from his WWE career.
Rhodes Wants to Keep Challenging Himself
Rhodes’ comments reflect an approach that goes beyond simply landing a recognizable role. He spoke about wanting to improve at acting by taking on material that asks more of him, framing future opportunities as a chance to strengthen a skill set that can only grow through experience.
He also expressed a particular affection for Guile, the popular Street Fighter character he portrays in the upcoming film. Guile has long been one of the franchise’s central figures, and Rhodes indicated that he would be open to staying connected to the character for a long time.
“I’d hope to stay Guile forever, but the bug, and I’ve been talking about this while I was on set, Noah Centineo screened Union County for me, and I was blown away by the depth they were going, the questions they were asking, and I’d love to take a swing, take a challenge, because without films and things like this, I’m not going to get any good at it. So I want to flex that muscle.”
There are several important points in Rhodes’ answer. First, his wish to “stay Guile forever” signals that he sees potential value in a lasting relationship with the character, should the film create further opportunities. At the same time, Rhodes does not appear interested in limiting himself to a single type of project. His reaction to seeing Union County points to an interest in acting work with greater depth and questions for performers to explore.
That does not mean Rhodes has revealed plans for a particular dramatic role. He has not. Still, the comments establish the kind of work he would like to attempt: projects that offer a genuine test and give him the repetition necessary to improve.
Street Fighter Gives Rhodes a Major Showcase
The upcoming release of Street Fighter represents a significant moment in Rhodes’ screen career. Video-game adaptations carry built-in audience awareness, especially when they draw from a series with the history and global recognition of Street Fighter. Guile, in particular, is not an obscure addition to that world. He is one of the franchise’s most enduring characters, making the casting an especially visible assignment for Rhodes.
For a wrestler moving into acting, such a role can also create a different kind of public introduction. WWE audiences know Rhodes for his presence in live arenas, his promo work, and his ability to connect with fans through long-form stories that unfold week after week. Film performance is a separate discipline, however, requiring performers to work within a scripted production, take direction, and help create a character through an entirely different process.
Rhodes acknowledged that reality directly when he said that he will not become better without continuing to make films and pursue similar opportunities. Rather than presenting himself as a finished actor, he emphasized the need to keep exercising that creative muscle. It is a practical outlook for someone at an early but increasingly prominent stage of a crossover path.
His previous appearance in The Naked Gun and his work in Street Fighter have already put him in larger productions. His latest remarks indicate he hopes those experiences become a foundation, not an endpoint.
Balancing WWE Stardom With New Opportunities
Rhodes’ interest in acting arrives while he remains deeply identified with WWE. His rise to the top of the company has made him one of its most important modern stars, and his name carries weight well beyond the usual wrestling audience. That profile can open doors in entertainment, but it also means any outside work will be viewed through the lens of his responsibilities and standing in WWE.
No change to Rhodes’ wrestling status was discussed in these comments. There was no indication that he is stepping away from WWE, reducing his role, or setting a timetable for any future plans. Instead, his remarks focused on finding room to do more creatively, with acting becoming an additional avenue for a performer who has consistently sought to broaden his reach.
That distinction matters. Rhodes is not describing acting as a replacement for wrestling. He is speaking about the process of learning, pursuing challenges, and taking advantage of opportunities that can develop him in another field. His desire to return as Guile if possible also shows that he sees ongoing franchise work and more demanding standalone material as compatible goals.
Wrestlers have often brought skills from the ring into film and television, including comfort in front of crowds, physical storytelling, character work, and the discipline of demanding schedules. But success in one format does not automatically translate to success in another. Rhodes’ own comments recognize that gap. He is not claiming that wrestling experience makes him instantly accomplished on screen; he is saying that he wants the work required to get better.
A Year of Possible Announcements
The strongest takeaway from Rhodes’ interview is his confidence that 2026 can be an active year for his work outside the ring. His phrase about a “good year for announcements” will inevitably invite interest from fans watching for casting news or other entertainment-related developments. For now, though, the only firm focus is the imminent arrival of Street Fighter.
Rhodes did not offer details about what form future announcements may take. They could involve another acting part, further development around Guile, or opportunities that have not yet been publicly revealed. Until he shares more, any conclusion beyond his stated desire to do more would be speculation.
What is clear is that Rhodes has caught the acting bug. The experience of being on set, combined with seeing work that impressed him through its depth and the questions it raised, has given him a stronger appetite to explore the craft. He wants more reps, more difficult material, and more chances to see how far he can push himself as an actor.
For WWE fans, that creates another storyline to follow alongside Rhodes’ in-ring career. As Street Fighter reaches audiences this week, attention will turn not only to his performance as Guile, but also to whether the film becomes the launching point for the additional announcements Rhodes believes could be ahead. His message is straightforward: he wants to remain connected to Guile, but he also wants to keep growing, taking chances, and flexing a new creative muscle.
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.