Heads of State stands out by leaning into the strengths of its leading stars to unleash a cinematic treasure filled with fun, memorable moments. The 2025 action comedy follows the mismatched duo of the United States president and British Prime Minister as they try to fend off explosive assassination attempts while mending fences between them. This fast-paced, action-packed buddy comedy shone a light on an amazing trio of John Cena (Will Derringer), Idris Elba (Sam Clarke), and Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Noel Basset). Their larger-than-life personalities spread more than enough fun amid high-octane action sequences.
Directed by Ilya Naishuller, Heads of State also features a special supporting cast, including Jack Quaid, who stars as Mart Comer, a CIA station agent in a Warsaw safe house. Carla Gugino portrays Elizabeth Kirk, the ambitious Vice President of the United States, while Paddy Considine is a Russian arms dealer named Viktor Gradov. Others include Sarah Niles (Simone Bradshaw), Stephen Root (Arthur Hammond), and Clare Foster (Cat Derringer). Despite the stellar ensemble, the imposing personalities of Elba, Cena, and Chopra evoke a huge feeling of nostalgia.
Idris Elba Juggles Being a Diplomatic British Prime Minister with a Hard Shell Military Background
Often touted as a possible James Bond actor, Idris Elba exudes charm and strength in every move. In his Heads of State role, Elba reunites with fellow The Suicide Squad veteran Cena as two political powerhouses fighting to stay alive and save the world at the same time. Paired with Cena’s chaotic character, Derringer, Elba portrays the calm in the midst of the storm perfectly. While he doesn’t hide his disdain for the antics of the movie-star-turned-president, Clarke remains focused, showing off his military skills.
Additionally, Clarke’s romantic entanglement with Jonas’s Noel brings out the charisma fans love about Elba. The British star has played diverse roles in movies and TV shows such as The Wire (2002), Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), Luther (2010-2019), and The Suicide Squad (2021). The Golden Globe Award-winning star is one of the world’s top-grossing actors, with his movies making over $9.8 billion at the global box office.
John Cena is the American President with a Penchant for Action Movies
Flawlessly blending professional wrestling with acting is one of the things that makes John Cena stand out. The versatile actor is known to bridge the gap between tough and tender, a trait that was fully explored in Heads of State. His portrayal of the somewhat meathead President Will Derringer is one for the ages. Cena’s on-point comic timing brings an alluring energy to Derringer, a former action movie star known for his role in the fictional movie, Water Cobra. Despite being in disagreement most of the time, Cena and Elba’s characters share a lovable chemistry that kept audiences entertained.
Derringer’s antics are not new to Cena’s fans, and playing a character who came straight out of Hollywood and into the White House is right up his alley. In addition to being a world-class Undisputed WWE Champion, Cena has popped up in many Hollywood blockbusters. From his longtime collaboration with the Fast and Furious franchise to playing leading roles in projects such as The Suicide Squad (2021), Peacemaker (since 2022), Ricky Stanicky (2024), and Jackpot (2024), Cena has proven himself to be the exceptional actor who can be fun and tough all at once and Naishuller tapped into that strength.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is the Queen of Covert Operations
Heads of State opens with Priyanka Chopra Jonas‘s Noel seemingly dying during a strike on Gradov at the Tomatina festival in Buñol, Spain. Things went south when their covert operation was compromised and the MI6 agent and her team were killed. As such, it was a pleasant surprise to see Noel join Clarke and Derringer to kick ass midway through the almost two-hour-long movie. With all her toughness, Noel is also surprisingly fun and loves to play around with puns. She also brings balance to the electric energy oozing between Clarke and Derringer.
Watching Chopra throw and take punches in Heads of State stirs nostalgia in fans of the Quantico alum. Playing an MI6 agent on a covert mission is not uncharted territory to the Indian actress known for similar roles on ABC’s Quantico (2015-2018) and Amazon Prime Video’s Citadel (since 2023). Chopra has also starred in movies such as Baywatch (2017), Isn’t It Romantic (2019), The White Tiger (2021), and The Matrix Resurrections (2021). Her Bollywood exploits include top action thrillers Krrish and Don.
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