,Heads Of State is a tense Prime Video thriller which sees WWE wrestling star John Cena play a US President Will Derringer, while Luther star Idris Elba is the British Prime Minister Sam Clarke.
The film reunites John Cena and Idris Elba for the first time since their movie The Suicide Squad — but this time, they're not trying to kill each other! In Heads Of State it's a pairing that couldn't be more different from Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer if they tried!
Both leaders Will Derringer and Sam Clarke, must put their political and personality differences aside to save the world — so far they have had a very public rivalry that jeopardises their countries' "special relationship" . Things soon change however, as a global conspiracy is uncovered, meaning they must work together to take down a foreign adversary. Also joining in the fray are Citadel star Priyanka Chopra Jones, who plays MI6 agent Noel Bisset while Paddy Considine also stars.
Here’s everything you need to know about the movie Heads Of State…
Heads Of State release date
Heads Of State will be available worldwide on Prime Video from Wednesday July 2 2025.
How to watch Heads of State: stream the Idris Elba & John Cena movie online
Is there a trailer?
Yes there are a couple of trailers for Heads Of State which show us how the US president and the UK prime minister are forced to work together after surviving a terrorist attack. And as they are unable to trust anyone else, they are forced to trust each other. You can watch both trailers here below…
Heads of State plot
Heads Of State follows former movie star and US president Will Derringer (John Cena) and UK prime minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), a serious-minded, seasoned former soldier whose popularity is on the wane. The pair have a decidedly frosty working relationship. But then they are caught up in the worst security breach in history.
Later, to demonstrate that the ‘Special Relationship’ between their two countries is still strong, Sam and Will make a show of travelling together on the Presidential plane, Air Force One, to a NATO summit in Trieste, Italy.
But at their first meeting in London, they don’t hit it off and their contrasting approaches to politics are soon on display at a press conference. Their aircraft is attacked mid-flight by criminals, however, at the behest of sinister Russian arms dealer Viktor Gradof (MobLand’s Paddy Considine). The two leaders must find a way to help one another foil a global conspiracy and save the free world. If they don’t kill each other first.
Heads Of State cast — John Cena on playing President Will Derringer
Heads of State see John Cena plays the US leader Will Derringer. "When I met Idris on The Suicide Squad, we clicked, he’s super-professional and funny, and we complement each other,’ says John Cena, 48. ‘I told him I’d love to work together again, and Peter Safran [the producer of both films] overheard and said 'I’ve got something'. Idris and I are such different personalities and this plays to our strengths."
* The actor and WWE wrestler John Cena has previously starred in The Suicide Squad, Barbie, Bumblebee, Fast and Furious 9 and Fighting with my Family. He’s also been in The Bear and the TV series Peacemaker.
Idris Elba on playing UK prime minister Sam Clarke
Idris Elba plays the president’s UK counterpart, prime minister Sam Clarke. "I play Sam Clarke, the UK Prime Minister, and John Cena is Will Derringer, the US President - and we really don’t get along. Our countries are in this tense relationship when we meet at a press conference. Then suddenly, we get hijacked and have to work together to survive. The adventure takes us around the world, and we get help from Priyanka Chopra Jonas - who plays someone I’ve got some history with, won’t say too much there - and Jack Quaid’s character, who helps get us to safety. It’s basically about these two rival leaders who have to put aside their differences and team up to make it through this wild situation.
"This genre has given us some of the best movie moments across decades. You know, when you take these great characters and throw them into wild situations - it’s pure escapism. One second you’re laughing, the next you’re on the edge of your seat. Heads of State is really our love letter to those 90s classics like Lethal Weapon and Beverly Hills Cop - big action, big characters. That’s what made me excited to be part of this.
"I learned so much from John Cena. You know, you have these preconceptions from his wrestling career and interviews, but meeting him - wow. He’s incredibly talented, always prepared - knows everyone’s lines, not just his own. And get this - he can even do scenes in Mandarin! He’s super disciplined, always on time, and this massive reader - he’ll be sitting there with some 700-page book about cloud theology or something! But what really blows me away is his improvisation. He just pulls these hilarious, random moments out of thin air that feel like they were scripted. It’s almost savant-level stuff."
* Idris Elba plays John Luther in the hit crime series and movie franchise of Luther and took on the role of former South African president Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Idris has also been in Hijack, The Suicide Squad (with John Cena too) Beast, Avengers: Infinity War, The Wire, Thor and Molly’s Game.
Who else is starring in Heads of State?
Also appearing in Heads Of State are Citadel star Priyanka Chopra Jones is playing kick-ass MI6 agent Noel Bisset while Paddy Considine, Jack Quaid, Carla Gugino, Sarah Niles, Stephen Root and Steven Cree also star.
Behind the scenes and more on Heads Of State
Heads Of State is directed by Ilya Naishuller and the screenplay is by Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Harrison Query. The story is by Harrison Query. The producers are Peter Safran, p.g.a. and John Rickard, p.g.a and the movie is executive produced by Marcus Viscidi, Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, John Cena and Idris Elba.
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