John Cena on the Acting Note From James Gunn That Brought “Peacemaker” to Life
When “The Suicide Squad” hit theaters in 2021, audiences weren’t exactly clamoring for a spinoff centered on the guy who betrayed the team. John Cena made his debut as Christopher Smith, a.k.a. Peacemaker. He was a walking contradiction—a violent jingoist who claimed to love peace so much he’d kill for it. Yet, when the HBO series dropped, it became a cultural phenomenon. Much of that success rests on John Cena’s shoulders, who delivered a performance equal parts hilarious, terrifying, and unexpectedly heartbreaking.
How James Gunn Saved “Peacemaker” With One Brutal Note to John Cena
It took a massive pivot and a harsh reality check from director James Gunn to find the character’s soul. Actors are often praised for their preparation, and John Cena is no different. Coming from the rigorous, live-performance world of the WWE, Cena is known for being disciplined and over-prepared. But sometimes, over-preparation can kill spontaneity.
In a recent tribute to James Gunn for Entertainment Weekly’s 2025 Entertainers of the Year, Cena opened up about his first day on the set of the “Peacemaker” series. He admitted that he walked onto the set with a very specific, rigid idea of who Chris Smith was. He had memorized his lines to the letter and built a character that was essentially a drill sergeant—angular, regimented, and intense.
The “Captain America” Note That Changed Everything
Gunn wasn’t having it. After a few takes where the vibe wasn’t landing, Gunn stopped the production to address the cast. As Cena recalls in his piece for Entertainment Weekly, the director gave him a piece of direction that fundamentally altered the DNA of the show.
Cena said on Entertainment Weekly, “He stopped, came over to all of us. In front of everybody, he said, ‘Don’t do this. Just be a douchey, bro-y Captain America.’ That’s an easy note for me to take. The difficult part about a simple note was, I had to abandon all the prep work.” It sounds like a simple, funny jab, but that direction is actually brilliant character work. By shifting Smith from a “drill sergeant” to a “douchey bro,” Gunn unlocked the insecurity behind the character.
A drill sergeant commands respect; a “bro-y” try-hard is desperate for approval. That insecurity is what made “Peacemaker” tragic, and ultimately, redeemable. If Cena had stuck to his guns (pun intended) and played Christopher Smith as a stoic, by-the-book soldier, the show likely would have been a forgettable action romp. By embracing the “douchey Captain America” persona, they created a character study about toxic masculinity, father issues, and the desperate need for connection.
Why John Cena Trusts James Gunn With His Career
For an actor of Cena’s stature, being told to scrap your entire character preparation in front of the cast and crew could be an ego-bruising moment. Instead, Cena views it as the moment Peacemaker was truly born. This level of trust is rare in Hollywood franchise filmmaking, where studio notes and “data-driven” decisions often water down creative risks. Cena emphasized that his trust in Gunn stems from the director’s willingness to take bold swings based on gut feeling rather than safe amalgamation.
Cena highlights that Gunn operates differently. He doesn’t hedge his bets based on algorithms or focus groups. This relationship between actor and director is about to become the bedrock of the entire DC franchise. Considering that we concluded “Peacemaker” season 2, the collaborative energy between these two is more vital than ever.
Gunn gave thanks to Entertainment Weekly and Cena on X, and said, “Honored to be named one of @EW’s Entertainer of the Year and grateful for my pal@JohnCena and the incredible actors and teams that brought #Superman and #Peacemaker to life this year.”
Final Thoughts
As we gear up for the next phase of DC Studios, fans should take comfort in this anecdote. It proves that James Gunn isn’t just a suit-making executive making decisions; he’s a director who knows exactly what to say to get the best out of his stars, even if it means telling them to act a little more like a “douche.”
