HBO Max has released a teaser trailer for the Max Original series PEACEMAKER, written and directed by James Gunn and produced by Peter Safran, at DC FanDome. The DC series debuts THURSDAY, JANUARY 13.
PEACEMAKER will explore the origins of the character John Cena first portrayed in James Gunn’s 2021 film, The Suicide Squad – a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it.
Developed during the 2020 lockdown when Gunn needed a mental distraction it wasn’t hatched until Gunn had finished his initial production work on The Suicide Squad, with the post-credit scene filmed while making Peacemaker.
Pitched on August 5, 2020, it will consist of eight episodes all written by Gunn. Set to arrive in January 2022, Gunn directed five episodes while Brad Anderson, Jody Hill and Rosemary Rodriguez also direct an episode each.
Cena, Steve Agee and Jennifer Holland will reprise their roles as NSA agents in the upcoming series. Other actors confirmed to appear include Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black), Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgment Day) and Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter).
The show will connect to The Suicide Squad and the existing DC Extended Universe and ’70s TV-show vibe, an All in the Family element and even some politics. A lot of the upcoming show is “a conversation” between Peacemaker and a character played by Danielle Brooks – “somebody who’s on the opposite side of the political spectrum” – about “where can we come together.”
Cena hopes Peacemaker brings forth a lot conversations with viewers. “We’ve got something that is going to be conversational and that people want more of.”
The series stars John Cena as Peacemaker, Danielle Brooks as Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Vigilante, Jennifer Holland as Harcourt, Steve Agee as Economos, Chukwudi Iwuji as Murn and Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith.
Gunn, Safran and Matt Miller serve as executive producers on the series, with Cena as co-executive producer. Based on characters from DC, PEACEMAKER is produced by Gunn’s Troll Court Entertainment and The Safran Company in association with Warner Bros. Television.
