CM Punk: “I Never Woke Up And Said ‘I Want To Be A Disney Princess,’ But Here I Am.”

CM Punk is known for being “The Best in the World” inside the squared circle, but the current World Heavyweight Champion is increasingly setting his sights on conquering a different industry: Hollywood. Ahead of the premiere of his new film Night Patrol, Punk opened up about his burgeoning acting career and his desire to break the mold often set for professional wrestlers transitioning to the big screen.

“I Just Take Every Opportunity”

In Night Patrol, a vampire thriller, Punk plays a police officer harboring a dark secret—a role that marks his second recent turn as a law enforcement character. While speaking to ABC News, he was asked if acting was always a part of his grand plan. In true Punk fashion, he admitted that while it wasn’t a childhood dream, he refuses to let doors close on him.

“You can for sure expect it (to see more of him on the big screen). I can’t say it was a dream, I’m just a guy that takes every single opportunity that comes my way. I never woke up and said ‘I want to be a Disney princess,’ but here I am.”

Following The Cena And Batista Blueprint

Punk acknowledged the stigma that often follows wrestlers into auditions—the expectation that they can only play “big, stupid” heavy hitters. He specifically cited John Cena and Dave Bautista as pioneers who have successfully dismantled that stereotype, expressing a desire to follow in their footsteps by taking on diverse, challenging roles.

“I think as wrestlers we get typecast, big, stupid, you know. I think John Cena and especially Dave Bautista have gone a long way to shatter that stereotype. I would like to help shatter those stereotypes, I would like to take on more challenges, do different roles. I’m currently shooting a rom-com up in Calgary that I think will turn some heads, make people see me in a little bit of a different light.”

The “rom-com” Punk referenced is reportedly Guarding Stars, a Netflix adaptation of Katherine Center’s novel The Bodyguard, where he will star alongside Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki. However, his focus this weekend will be on the box office. Night Patrol officially releases in theaters tomorrow, Friday, January 16, 2026. The film has already generated buzz on the festival circuit, and its reception could be a key indicator of whether Punk can indeed replicate the cinematic success of his peers while still holding the top prize on Monday Night Raw.