Dustin Rhodes recently spoke with Wrestlezone’s Bill Pritchard about his upcoming film schedule and taking on more of a ‘mentor’ role in All Elite Wrestling. Dustin will work on B22 Films’ Cutter Bill and Thunderclap! this year, recently wrapping up filming on the former last week.
When it came to his role as Mitchell White, a thief attempting to steal the $80 million fortune hidden away on a Cowboy Mafia farm in Cutter Bill, Dustin says director Brett Bentman wrote it with him in mind. He says his goal as an actor is to show people how talented he is, and he hopes people see that in both of his upcoming roles.
“This was Bret, and he pitched this to me and thought of me first, and only me, which was really cool. I read the script and I fell in love with it. There has been some things that I have read for, like auditioned for, that I absolutely hated. But I’m trying to get my foot in the door and I’m trying to work hard and become a good actor because that is my goal to do that now. I’ve done just about everything else there is to do and this is now my passion. But Thunderclap, I’m really excited for—I’m excited for both of these—but Thunderclap, man, is going to really give the world a true test to see if Dustin Rhodes can act. It’s going to be fun. To me, I read the script, and I’m looking at it like a ‘Million Dollar Baby’ type movie. It’s one of those feels to it. It’s gonna be a heartwarming story, kind of sad at the same time, but very very cool. I’m looking forward to it.
Dustin has already written a book (Cross Rhodes: Goldust, Out of the Darkness) and has been open about his substance abuse issues. With his foray into acting, Dustin was asked if he’d eventually like to turn his own life’s story into a film one day. Dustin says that’s something he’d be interested in down the line, but right now he wants to focus on learning to be an actor, much like he wants to be a mentor in wrestling, following those who were there for him.
“Right now I kind of just want to focus on honing my craft, because this is new for me in a sense. It’s different than WWE, and the acting, and AEW or whatever else. But it’s kind of the same, if that makes sense. It’s different, but it’s the same. So I still have a lot to learn on this side of the spectrum, and I’m looking forward to that. It’s a strong passion inside of me, just like wrestling is, and I love wrestling. And AEW is doing great, and I want to be a mentor for those kids too, because I think it’s important that we as the veterans pass that on to the younger kids, like they did for me. I kept my mouth shut and I learned my trade. I want to do the same thing with them, and I want to do the same thing with acting. Keep my mouth shut, learn, watch, listen, and start to excel in this and hopefully become one of the most powerful actors in the world one day.”
Dustin said one of his goals is to one day win an Academy Award, which is the pinnacle in acting much like winning a World Championship is in professional wrestling. Dustin says he wanted to be world champion for 31 years, and while it hasn’t happened yet, he’s still enjoying his final run in wrestling and won’t give up on that goal just yet. He noted that he even surprised himself with his conditioning at Fight For The Fallen and said if he can perform at a high level in those conditions, there’s no reason he couldn’t still take wrestling’s top prize.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun—one last ride. However long that takes, I don’t know. But right now, at 50, my body is feeling pretty good. I trained hard for Double Or Nothing, I really did. And I kept training for the Fight For The Fallen. And man, you’re talking about a hot night for me in that suit, I was like, ‘I’m going to die, the Young Bucks are going to kill me.’ And 31 minutes and I wasn’t really gassed.
So I surprised myself. I stayed hydrated throughout the day. I did everything I was supposed to do in the gym with my trainer. So I was ready, I was prepared. If I can do 31 minutes in 100 percent humidity with a heat index way over 100 at 95 degrees at night, at 10 p.m. at night—then I can do anything. And I can be World Champion.”
Related: Dustin Rhodes On Influences & Goals As An Actor, Working w/ Law Enforcement & Playing A Thief
