John Cena Unveils DC's 'Peacemaker' Look in New Trailer Teaser

John Cena Embraces the Peacemaker Role at Comic-Con

John Cena is no stranger to making a statement with his outfits. From his memorable 2024 Oscars birthday suit to his frequent appearances in the Peacemaker uniform, he’s always ready to stand out. At this year’s Comic-Con, he took it to the next level by showing up in full costume, complete with his iconic helmet, during the Season 2 panel for his DC action-comedy series.

“This is where we’re supposed to do this,” Cena said on July 26 during the event. “I had to borrow this again. This one is not mine. This is a rental.” While joking about the costume, he also expressed excitement about seeing fans in Peacemaker cosplay. “There’s not enough hot sauce in this city to contain us,” he quipped.

The panel provided a glimpse into what fans can expect from the upcoming second season of “Peacemaker,” which will be available on HBO Max starting August 21. The show continues to expand James Gunn’s reimagined DC universe, and the filmmaker received a standing ovation from the crowd. Gunn also unveiled a new trailer that highlights the show’s continued exploration of the character’s journey.

In the new season, Chris Smith (played by Cena) discovers an inter-dimensional portal in his home, leading him to a parallel Earth where he is seen as a hero rather than an outcast. “Peacemaker is going through a rough patch in life and thinks the grass might be greener on the other side,” Cena explained. “That’s something people can relate to.”

Gunn, who calls “Peacemaker” his “favorite thing in the world,” emphasized the show’s evolution. “I like when characters on TV shows don’t return the same every season. There’s growth and there’s regressions after Peacemaker’s uncovered his demons in Season 1, and the world is not accepting him the way he is.”

The first episode of Season 2 takes place a month after the events of “Superman” and features cameos from members of the Justice Gang, including Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), as well as their billionaire backer Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). “But there’s a lot more as we go down the line,” Gunn said. “We’re definitely a part of the DCU now.”

Frank Grillo returns as Rick Flag Sr., a major new antagonist in the series who seeks revenge on Peacemaker for killing his son. As the new head of A.R.G.U.S., a federal agency that deals with metahumans, Flag is in a position to finally get his hands on Peacemaker.

Grillo, known for his action roles, was initially hesitant about the musical number featured in the opening credits of the new season. “Dancing was something I very reluctantly did, but turned into me being the best dancer on stage,” he admitted. Jennifer Holland, who plays Emilia Harcourt, even performed a lift from “Dirty Dancing,” which she described as “amazing.”

Gunn teased that Season 2 is more extreme than the first and is definitely not for kids. One scene in the first episode involves a very sexual situation that made actor Steve Agee think “it’s insane we’re showing it on cable.” Meanwhile, Cena shared details about his new Peace cycle, a “lumbering piece of machinery” equipped with torpedoes, speakers, and a cool paint job.

An interesting tidbit revealed by Cena was that Gunn “hates” the “You can’t see me” jokes, a nod to Cena’s pro wrestling career. “I love them. Nobody is next to James Gunn, it’s just a floating helmet!” Cena said, holding his headwear beside Gunn as the director laughed. “He’s so frustrated.”

Gunn praised Cena’s performance, calling him “one of the most famous people in the world” with “no ego.” He added that Cena’s work on the show has been “amazing” and that he’s grown significantly as an actor in two years. “It’s really something to see,” Gunn concluded.