TMZ.com passed this along.
WWE — Randy Orton SCRAPPED from ‘Marine’ Movie
WWE superstar Randy Orton has been 86’d from the lead role in the upcoming movie “Marine: Homefront” … amidst outrage from several Devil Dogs who claim Randy deserted them during his brief stint in the USMC.
A rep for WWE tells us, “WWE demonstrated poor judgment in signing Randy Orton for the 3rd installment of the film.”
The rep adds, “Despite Randy’s popularity, the fact that he was dishonorably discharged from the USMC made it inappropriate for him to be cast in this film.”
The move will surely satisfy Cpl. Mike Vinn … one of Randy’s former unit members who was FURIOUS the wrestler was ever up for the role in the first place … since Orton received a bad conduct discharge in 1999 after going AWOL on two separate occasions and disobeying an order from a commanding officer.
Orton was court-martialed and served 38 days in a military prison.
Before Orton was scrapped from the project, Vinn told TMZ, “I am disgusted that his face and the word Marine are being used next to each other — real or fake — because of the fact that he quit us, the country, and the Marine Corps. [Randy] in the role of a Marine is a disgrace to those that have worn and are wearing that uniform.”