Eric André has found a very unconventional perk to starring in a major Netflix film. The comedian, 43, recently revealed that landing a role in the upcoming comedy Little Brother did more than boost his career it also got him back into his own Netflix account after years of being shut out.
Speaking exclusively at the 2026 Netflix Upfront in New York City on May 13, Eric André admitted he had been relying on his ex’s login credentials for the streaming platform until his new professional relationship with Netflix changed things. He said the only reason he regained access to his long lost account was because of the film and conversations he had with people at the highest levels of the company. He joked that he had come very close to going straight to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos to sort the whole thing out.
It’s a lighthearted confession that perfectly suits the chaotic, self deprecating energy André has built his career on and one that makes his full circle moment with the streaming giant all the more entertaining.
What Little Brother is all about
Directed by Matt Spicer, Little Brother centers on a high-strung realtor whose carefully ordered life is turned completely upside down when his unpredictable younger brother unexpectedly shows back up. John Cena, 49, plays the buttoned up realtor, while André steps in as the lovably chaotic sibling who disrupts everything.
The film rounds out a strong ensemble cast that includes Michelle Monaghan, Christopher Meloni, Sherry Cola, Ego Nwodim and Caleb Hearon. André described the emotional range of the film as a journey through every possible feeling the highs, the lows and everything in between promising audiences a ride that goes far beyond laughs alone.
André and Cena’s on set chemistry
By all accounts, the real life dynamic between Eric and Cena mirrored their on screen relationship in the best possible way. Eric described their bond as a genuine big brother little brother energy that carried through the entire production. He said the two went deep into their characters, and things got more than a little brotherly between them on set playfully describing the experience as borderline romantic in its camaraderie.
Cena, for his part, was equally enthusiastic about working alongside Eric. Speaking at the same Netflix Upfront event, Cena said he had not laughed as hard in as long as he could remember while watching The Eric André Show in preparation for the role. He called the script a natural fit for André’s particular brand of comedy and said he was genuinely happy to serve as the straight man to André’s more unpredictable energy.
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Cena on what makes André unique
Cena drew on a comparison that felt personal to him likening the world of comedy to professional wrestling, a space he knows well. He noted that just as there is no single right way to perform in the ring, there is no single right way to do comedy, and that every performer brings their own recipe to the craft. For André specifically, Cena said what makes him stand out is the balance between fearlessness and genuine thoughtfulness. He pointed out that André is not someone who plays it safe with his material, yet everything he does comes from a place of real intention and a mind that is always moving.
It is that combination the apparent chaos grounded in something deliberate that Cena said makes André genuinely difficult to compare to anyone else working in comedy today.
When to watch
Little Brother premieres on Netflix on June 26.
EXCLUSIVE : PEOPLE
