Drew McIntyre’s growing acting career has placed him alongside one of the most accomplished performers in film, and the WWE star says the experience has already left a lasting mark on him.
McIntyre is set to appear with Russell Crowe in the upcoming films Highlander and The Last Druid. While discussing the work he has done with Crowe, McIntyre described the Oscar-winning actor as a mentor and detailed how an initial curiosity on the set of Highlander developed into nearly three months of learning directly from him.
For McIntyre, the opportunity was not simply about adding film credits to his résumé. He said Crowe’s career, experience and approach to his craft gave him valuable perspective that can carry over to WWE as well as his life away from the ring.
“I mean, that’s a career — I don’t think many people are going to be able to achieve the level that Russell is at. But, yeah, he’s a mentor for sure.”
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A chance to watch great performers at work
McIntyre explained that his earliest interactions around Highlander came from a desire to observe and ask questions. He recalled watching a scene involving Henry and Crowe, remaining on set well beyond the end of his own scheduled work so that he could study two experienced actors in action.
“I spent 12 weeks with him, I met him on Highlander. I saw a particular scene with Henry and Russell, I was asking a lot of questions with Chad. I stayed for like four hours extra just to watch two of the best in action, just asking a lot.”
That approach fits with the way McIntyre has approached major opportunities throughout his wrestling career. He has been open about the importance of growth, preparation and adapting to new challenges. In this case, he was able to spend time in an environment separate from WWE television, where the demands of performance are different but the need to connect with an audience remains just as important.
On a wrestling broadcast, performers often have limited time to establish character, advance a conflict and create an emotional reaction in front of a live crowd. Film work requires a different rhythm, with scenes constructed through multiple takes and technical setups. McIntyre’s comments make clear that he saw value in studying accomplished screen actors as they worked through that process.
After watching the scene and spending time speaking with Crowe, McIntyre soon received an unexpected call from his agents. The message was that Crowe wanted him to take part in another project.
The call that led to The Last Druid
McIntyre admitted that he did not immediately believe the news. Having only recently completed his work on Highlander and returned home, he initially dismissed the suggestion that Crowe had personally requested him for a role.
“Then I met Russell, spent some time talking with him. I was at home once I’d finished Highlander and I got a call from my agents, they said, ‘Russell Crowe called, he wants you to be part of a movie.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m sure he did’ and hung up.”
The agents called again to assure McIntyre that the offer was genuine. Even then, the WWE star wanted confirmation directly from Crowe before taking the next step with WWE.
“They called back and said, ‘No, no, we’re serious.’ I had to get proper confirmation from the man himself before I went to WWE and said, ‘Is this something that would be possible?’”
The role would lead McIntyre to The Last Druid, another project that will pair him with Crowe. The experience required coordination with WWE, where McIntyre remains an active featured performer. He said WWE President Nick Khan and Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque recognized the significance of the chance to work on the film and approved his participation.
“Thankfully, Nick Khan and Triple H, they both looked at it and saw it as a huge opportunity and approved me to go over.”
McIntyre’s comments underscore the importance of the approval. The actor-wrestler did not present the film as something undertaken separately from WWE, but as an opportunity discussed with and supported by the company. It also reflects the wider possibilities available to a WWE talent whose profile extends beyond the weekly wrestling schedule.
Nearly three months under Crowe’s “learning tree”
The most meaningful part of the experience for McIntyre was the time itself. He said he spent 12 weeks with Crowe, describing the period as nearly three months “under the learning tree.” The phrase speaks to more than simply appearing in scenes together. McIntyre viewed the time as an education from a performer whose career has spanned decades and included major roles across a broad range of films.
“Spending nearly three months with Russell under the learning tree was amazing, incredible things I can apply not just on screen but to our WWE product as well. Lessons in life as well. He really has seen a lot and done a lot in this life.”
McIntyre did not specify every lesson he intends to bring back to WWE, but he was direct that the experience has applications beyond acting. That is notable given the distinctive nature of WWE performance. Promos, backstage segments, media appearances and in-ring storytelling all demand a strong command of presence and character. McIntyre believes the knowledge he gained from Crowe can be used in those areas while also helping him continue to develop in front of the camera.
His remarks also point to the personal impact of the relationship. McIntyre praised Crowe not only for his professional accomplishments but for the perspective that comes from a life and career filled with experience. In calling Crowe a mentor, McIntyre framed the connection as something broader than a temporary on-set collaboration.
A personal gift from Crowe
McIntyre also revealed that Crowe gave him his first watch, adding a personal detail to the relationship that developed during their work together. The gift stands as a memorable reminder of a period McIntyre described as amazing and formative.
There is no indication that McIntyre is stepping away from WWE to pursue acting full-time. Instead, he has said he is focused on “Hollywood Drew” at the moment, signaling that the film work is an important current priority alongside his ongoing wrestling career. With appearances in both Highlander and The Last Druid, McIntyre has a pair of upcoming projects that will put him on screen with Crowe after the extended time they spent working together.
For McIntyre, the two films represent more than a new professional lane. They have given him a chance to learn from someone he considers one of the most successful actors of his generation, to test himself in a new medium and to return to WWE with a different set of tools.
McIntyre’s rise in WWE has long been defined by resilience and reinvention. His current acting work provides another chapter in that process. Whether he is preparing for a film set or a WWE arena, McIntyre appears intent on using every opportunity to sharpen his performance. And after 12 weeks alongside Russell Crowe, he believes he has gained lessons that will remain valuable well after the cameras stop rolling.
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.