Drew McIntyre’s extended absence from WWE wasn’t just because Hollywood came calling. According to McIntyre, Triple H and WWE President Nick Khan personally reviewed the opportunity and agreed it was too good to pass up.
Speaking with Collider, McIntyre opened up about how his relationship with Russell Crowe developed while filming Highlander. He explained that he spent extra time on set watching Crowe and Henry Cavill work, staying for hours after filming just to learn from them and ask director Chad Stahelski questions.
“I mean, that’s a career—I don’t think many people are going to be able to achieve the level that Russell Crowe’s at. But yeah, he’s a mentor for sure. I spent, like, goodness, like 12 weeks with him. I met him on Highlander. I saw a particular scene with Henry and Russell, and 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 and just asking a lot. And then I met Russell, spent some time talking with him. And I was at home once I’d finished Highlander, and I got a call from my agents, Warren and Nick, and they said, ‘Russell Crowe called. He wants you to be part of a movie.’ And I said, ‘I’m sure he did,’ and I hung up and I put the phone down.
They called back and said, ‘No, no, we’re serious.’”
McIntyre said he refused to approach WWE until he had confirmation directly from Crowe that the offer was legitimate. Once that happened, he brought the opportunity to Triple H and Nick Khan, who ultimately gave him the green light to extend his time away from WWE.
“I had to get proper confirmation from the man himself before I went to WWE and said, ‘Is this something that would be possible?’ And thankfully, you know, Nick Khan, our president, Triple H, head of creative, they both looked at it, saw it as a huge opportunity and approved me to go over.
“And 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. Lessons in life as well. You know, like, he really has seen a lot and done a lot in this life.”
McIntyre has been away from WWE since WrestleMania 42, using the time to build his acting career with multiple film projects. While fans are still waiting for his return, it’s now clear WWE didn’t just allow the extra time away—they viewed the opportunity as something that could benefit both McIntyre and the company in the long run.
Do you think WWE made the right call by giving Drew McIntyre extra time away to pursue Hollywood, or would you rather have seen him back on TV sooner? Let us know in the comments below.
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