Why is Drew McIntyre still away from WWE? How Hollywood and Russell Crowe are shaping his next chapter

WWE star Drew McIntyre has revealed that he plans to return to WWE but currently he is balancing responsibilities in his emerging Hollywood career. The former WWE champion has spent several months away from the ring, working on film projects and learning from Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe. McIntyre has said that WWE remains his home but at present, his priority is Hollywood.

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Why is Drew McIntyre away from WWE?

Drew McIntyre has been away from WWE television since WrestleMania 42, where he faced Jacob Fatu in an unsanctioned match. Instead of returning to the ring immediately, he has been working on several acting projects, including Highlander, The Last Druid and Agent of Shadows.


The Scottish wrestler recently spoke about his future during an interview with Fox News. He said he was ready to return to wrestling but was currently focused on his Hollywood career.

“I'm always ready to go,” McIntyre said, adding that he was keeping himself in shape. “But right now, I'm focused on Hollywood Drew. So, we'll see. We will see.”

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Asked about his next SmackDown or Raw appearance, McIntyre told Fox News: “I’m as big as I’ve ever been. I’m 285, right? And I’m 10 pounds bigger than I was for ‘Agent of Shadows.’ I’m in the best shape of my life. I posted myself running the ropes the other day, keeping myself in ring shape. I’m always ready to go. I think it got like over 8 million views, just bouncing off the ropes a few times, across my social media platforms. But right now, I’m focused on Hollywood Drew. So, we’ll see. We will see.”

How Russell Crowe became Drew McIntyre's mentor

One of the biggest developments in McIntyre's acting career has been his association with Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe. The two met while working on Highlander, the upcoming reboot starring Henry Cavill. McIntyre said he spent time watching Crowe and Cavill perform, asking questions and learning about acting.

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That experience later led to another opportunity. According to McIntyre, Crowe contacted him about joining The Last Druid, giving him the chance to work with the actor again.

“He’s a mentor for sure. I spent, my goodness, like 12 weeks with him. I met him on Highlander. I saw the a particular scene with Henry [Cavill] and Russell, and I was asking a lot of questions which Chad [Stahlinski, the director]. I stayed for like 4 hours extra just to watch two of the best in action, and just asking a lot.

“Then I met Russell, spent some time talking with him. I was at home once I’d finished Highlander, and I got a call from my agents Vernon and Nick, and they said, ‘Russell Crow 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 [laughs]. Then they called back and said, ‘No, no, we’re we’re serious.’ I had to get proper confirmation from the man himself before I went to WWE and said, ’Is this something that’d 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, and it was amazing — incredible things I can apply not just on screen, but to our WWE product, lessons in life as well, like he has really seen a lot and done a lot in his life.”

What movies and projects is Drew McIntyre working on?

McIntyre's growing list of acting projects has kept him busy during his wrestling break.

- Highlander: McIntyre plays Angus in the reboot starring Henry Cavill. The film also features Russell Crowe and Dave Bautista and is expected to arrive in 2027.

- The Last Druid: McIntyre joined the film after Crowe invited him to take part. The project was filmed in Barcelona, although a release date has not been confirmed.

- Agent of Shadows: McIntyre stars in the action-drama produced through a collaboration between WWE and ReelShort. The project premiered on October 23, 2026.

- Hexed: McIntyre is also set to lend his voice to a character in Disney's animated film, scheduled for a November 25 theatrical release.

Is Drew McIntyre going to return to WWE?

Drew McIntyre has made it clear that he does not intend to leave WWE permanently. However, he has not given fans a specific date for his return.

“Yeah, I'll be back eventually. You know, WWE is my home, but at the same time, Hollywood Drew is busy right now and focused on Hollywood Drew. So when I get back eventually, it's going to be a big deal,” he said.