James Gunn Interview: Peacemaker (2024)

James Gunn made a name for himself directing Marvel'sGuardians of the Galaxy movies, but then he made the jump to the DC Extended Universe to helm 2021'sThe Suicide Squad. Among the colorful cast of characters in that film was Peacemaker, played by John Cena. Gunn's latest project, the aptly titled TV showPeacemaker, sees the director re-team with Cena for a series revolving around the titular character. Similar to Gunn's other offerings,Peacemaker features plenty of humor and heart as it tells its story.

Screen Rant spoke to Gunn aboutPeacemaker, its memorable opening credits,Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and much more.

Related: Peacemaker Proves Gunn Was Right to Ignore Suicide Squad Complaints

Screen Rant: I love the show. I think it's f**king awesome. I want to start with the opening credits, because I've had "Do You Wanna Taste It" stuck in my head ever since I watched.

James Gunn: John [Cena] and I were talking last night and I'm like, "John, it has been, not quite a year, almost a year since we shot the sequence." I have watched the opening dance sequence, who knows how many? Hundreds of times. And the other night, I was in the bathroom singing "Do You Wanna Taste It". There's nobody that should be more sick of that song than me in the world. But I still love it.

It's amazing. Anytime it came on, I would get up off the couch and be doing a little dance. How did the idea where did the idea for that sequence come from?

James Gunn: Listen, I love dance sequences and I just wrote it into the script. I just thought it was really funny. That too was a way to show audiences that you don't know what to expect from this show. This is not your usual DC or Marvel TV show. This is a show in which our characters can do the most ridiculous dance in the world with the most serious look on their faces. I hired a choreographer by the name of Charissa Barton, who was incredibly talented and she helped me to put it together and we shot it in a day in a high school auditorium.

How did everyone handle the choreography?

James Gunn: They were great. The dancers were great. Some are better than others, but overall, besides Robert Patrick -- I love him. He's definitely not the next Baryshnikov. -- but besides Robert, who you can see messing up in some of our wide shots, which is very funny to me, they were fantastic dancers and some of them were really great. Jenn, who is a gymnast, was probably the best. But Danielle and Annie, who plays Song, were fantastic. Chukwudi was fantastic. Steve Agee was surprisingly really good. They were all really quite good dancers. John, he was overall great. It was fun.

John Cena, of course, is incredible in this role, immaculate. Everyone really kind of stands out individually, which I love. But someone who surprised me the most, just because I knew the least about him, was Vigilante. Freddie Stroma really blew me away, and I know he kind of came in a little later to the game. Can you talk about bringing him into the fold?

James Gunn: Yeah. He came in late. We had already shot five and a half episodes with another actor, who's an incredibly talented guy. But we were on different pages about certain things, and I don't think he wanted to continue on the series in the long run. So we brought Freddie in, five and a half episodes in, and I reshot all of his scenes. And you're the first person who asked me that question, which I'm surprised by. But yeah, we re-shot. I directed all of the scenes with Vigilante in five and a half episodes.

I really liked him. I feel like fans are gonna respond really, really well to Vigilante.

James Gunn: Yeah, I think so too. I think Freddie is just amazing, and the chemistry between him and John is fantastic. Freddie is so good at it. He's such a sociopath, such a psychopath, and yet sweet at the same time. There's an innocence to him, despite the fact that he does these horrible things, and is completely lacking in empathy and feelings in a way that Peacemaker is not. Very different from Peacemaker in that way. One is a guy who struggles with what he does, and the other guy is a guy who doesn't struggle at all with what he does but loves Peacemaker unconditionally, which is an interesting relationship.

Just as sweet completely, unhinged man.

James Gunn: Yes.

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Out of all the episodes, which episode are you looking forward to fans seeing the most and why?

James Gunn: There's no doubt but eight. Eight is the best yes. Eight is great. And I love six, I have a special place in my heart for six, but eight is the one that I really am excited for people to see. As you probably know, we've kept it. We haven't shown anybody. Nobody knows what's gonna happen in eight. But I know what's going to happen. The cast knows what's going to happen. Some of HBO Max knows what's gonna happen. We're all very excited to show people the last episode of Peacemaker. The last episode of this season.

Yeah, I was gonna ask because, for everyone watching, press only got the first seven episodes, we have no idea what happens in the finale. But, is the plan one season of Peacemaker? Multiple seasons? What are you thinking right now?

James Gunn: [Jokingly] We have 87 seasons mapped out. Yeah, we're gonna be doing this until John and I are 150 years old. But it's yeah, no we all want to continue. We really want to continue. It was the greatest group of people. I brought in, obviously, I was already friends with John and Jen, obviously, and Steve Agee. But, Danielle, and Chuk is one of my best friends. You know, Chuk is one of the primary characters now in Guardians 3 and he is murdering it on this movie. So, it was just really a great group of people and I can't wait to work with them again.

So you're currently in Guardians 3 land right now

James Gunn: I am. Yeah, I'm shooting Guardians 3. You know, we're having some crazy COVID stuff right now but hopefully, we're going to be back to shooting on Tuesday.

How's that dreamboat Will Poulter doing?

James Gunn: Oh, he's the best. He's the best. He's killing it. People are going to really love Adam -- or love? They're going to appreciate Adam Warlock, I'll say.

That's someone people were fan casting him for a long time.

James Gunn: I didn't know who Will Poulter was before he auditioned!

I mean, people were fan casting Adam Warlock!

James Gunn: Oh Adam. Oh yeah, I know. Everybody. Yeah. He's great and Adam Warlock is great and I can't wait for people to see it. But it's a really rough shoot because it's dark and deep and goes into all the characters.

When we spoke for Suicide Squad, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, I kind of got the impression that you were thinking about multiple characters, spin-offs with multiple characters. I know you're talking about 87 seasons with Peacemaker, but is there anyone else that you would really want to do a show with, that you're thinking about?

James Gunn: Oh.. yes!

Is something in the works?

James Gunn: Perhaps.

Perhaps. Okay. Will we find out more about that in the finale, perhaps?

James Gunn: I don't know. If you're good at guessing, maybe.

If you're good at guessing. Well, that is my time. James. I always love catching up with you. So good to see you and congrats on the show. Take care.

James Gunn: I'll see you soon.

Next: When Peacemaker Is Set in the DCEU Timeline

Peacemaker is now streaming on HBO Max.