Summary
- Roku is launching a new original talk series called What Drives You hosted by John Cena, where he will have in-depth conversations with celebrity friends while riding in their favorite cars.
- The series will be produced by Leftfield Pictures and will showcase Cena’s quick wit, curiosity, and passion for cars.
- John Cena’s involvement with Roku continues to grow, as he has been part of previous Roku original programming and will serve as an executive producer on an upcoming docuseries. Roku continues to establish itself as a major player in the streaming industry, with over 70 million active accounts in 2022.
In a press release today from Roku, it was announced that the streaming platform is moving forward with a new, original talk series hosted by global superstar, John Cena. Titled What Drives You, the format will see Cena hook up with his celebrity friends as they take a ride in some of their favorite cars, while discussing the things that matter to them. You can read the official synopsis below.
Cena is revving up the engine in “What Drives You,” a breakthrough talk show format, where he’ll hit the road with his celebrity friends in their favorite vehicles that hold a special meaning to them. In each episode, he’ll hitch a ride with a new guest for an in-depth interview and curiosity-fueled excursion, as they discuss a wide variety of both laugh-out-loud and deeply personal topics, all the while reminiscing about some of the guest’s favorite memories associated with their prized ride.
Produced by Leftfield Pictures, who have also produced such series as Animal Planet’s Surviving Joe Exotic, and Tackle My Ride for the NFL Network, the company’s president, Shawn Witt, stated:
“We’ve always felt that John’s quick wit, sincere curiosity and charm would make him a terrific host for a talk format, and ‘What Drives You’ is the perfect vehicle (sorry) to showcase his talent and genuine obsession with all things automotive. We’re stoked to bring this series to life with him and our partners at Roku.
Head of Originals for Roku Media, Brian Tannenbaum, also commented on the new series.
“We’re thrilled to partner with John Cena and Leftfield Pictures to bring our audience ‘What Drives You’, a talk series that converges John’s passions of cars, conversation and entertainment.”
John Cena, who recently ended a months-long stint wrestling in the WWE during his downtime thanks to the SAG-AFTRA strike, had this to say about his new talk series.
“The car you drive and where you drive it can say a lot about who you are, from your personality type to what you value and prioritize the most. ‘What Drives You’ is all about tapping into this and each guest’s unique connection to their car, and a destination close to their heart, as the crux of a candid and wide-ranging conversation. It’s a great opportunity for me to ride shotgun and learn from some of the world’s most entertaining and inspiring individuals.”
What Drives You Expands Cena’s Involvement with Roku
John Cena is no stranger to Roku, as he has already been involved in some of their original programming. He appeared in the Roku original comedy series, Die Hart 2: Die Harter, and will serve as executive producer on an upcoming Roku original docuseries titled WWE Superstars of Tomorrow. What Drives You will only see Cena further cement his relationship with the streamer.
In recent years, Roku has positioned itself as a creator of original content alongside Netflix and Amazon, acquiring the rights to The Spiderwick Chronicles, while also releasing acclaimed originals such as The Great American Baking Show, and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Roku has quickly become one of America’s number one streaming services, surpassing 70 million active accounts, for a total of 87.4 billion hours streamed in 2022.
