James Gunn Doesnt Want You To Know His Favorite DCU Project (But His Wife Just Leaked It Anyway)

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James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, is involved in all of DC’s superhero projects – from Lanterns to The Batman: Part 2 – as an executive producer. His wife recently shared that he has a favorite project among them, though he’d likely deny it if asked! Despite overseeing the creative direction of the DC Universe, Gunn continues to write and direct projects himself, including Season 1 of Creature Commandos, Superman, Season 2 of Peacemaker, and the upcoming Man of Tomorrow.

James Gunn has a special connection to HBO Max’s Peacemaker. He’s good friends with the show’s lead, John Cena, and the whole cast, and his wife, Jennifer Holland, actually appears as the character Emilia Harcourt.

While accepting the award for Best Superhero Television Series at the 53rd Saturn Awards for Peacemaker, Jennifer Holland revealed that the HBO Max show is James Gunn’s “favorite child.” However, she joked that Gunn would probably deny it if asked directly.

I feel like I have a good understanding of what James Gunn really loves. He’d never say it, just like a parent wouldn’t pick a favorite child, but I’m convinced ‘Peacemaker’ is his passion project. He’ll deny it if you ask, but it’s absolutely true.

The actress, who stars in projects for the DC Universe, went on to say that Peacemaker is the most uniquely ‘James Gunn’ project he’s ever created. She explained this is because the show expertly combines humor with a genuinely touching and relatable story.

This show perfectly captures James Gunn’s style – it’s a wild mix of dark humor, strangeness, and a bit of gross-out comedy. But beneath all that, it’s a surprisingly heartwarming story about human connection, and that really reflects who James Gunn is as a creator.

Following the finale of Peacemaker, James Gunn shared in a press event (as reported by IGN) that the character is “really important to [him].” He expressed his desire at DC Studios to develop lesser-known characters into major successes – what he called “diamond properties.”

He means a lot to me, and Peacemaker is a significant character. When we started this project, my goal was to strengthen and revitalize DC’s biggest heroes – Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman – and also build up lesser-known characters like Peacemaker into major stars.

John Cena and Jennifer Holland both received nominations at the 53rd Saturn Awards for their roles in a television series, but didn’t win. However, their show, Peacemaker, was a success, winning Best Superhero Television Series. It beat out strong competition, including Daredevil: Born Again, Invincible, The Sandman, Ironheart, and Gen V.

What’s Next for Peacemaker After Season 2

The first season of Peacemaker ended with a shocking twist: Frank Grillo, playing Rick Flag Sr., joined forces with Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) to build Salvation, a prison for metahumans from different dimensions. Motivated by the death of his son at Peacemaker’s hands in The Suicide Squad, Flag Sr. locked Peacemaker away in Salvation while the rest of the 11th Street Kids now manage Checkmate within the DC Universe.

James Gunn recently shared at an industry event that there aren’t currently plans for a third season of Peacemaker. He explained that the season finale’s cliffhanger wasn’t meant to tease another season, but rather to hint at what’s coming for the broader DC Universe and projects like Man of Tomorrow.

This isn’t just about wrapping up Season 2; it’s about the bigger DC Universe and how this story will continue in future projects. While I don’t want to rule anything out completely, a continuation of this specific storyline isn’t planned for the immediate future. Our focus is on the overall direction of the DCU.

A recent, unconfirmed report suggests John Cena’s Peacemaker character might reappear next year in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow movie, continuing the story from his HBO Max show. Given the expected importance of Rick Flag Sr. and his Salvation prison in the Superman sequel, it’s logical that Peacemaker’s return to the DC Universe could be connected to that film’s plot.

James Gunn clearly has a strong preference for the Peacemaker series, which is why it’s the only project continuing from the previous DC Universe. However, it’s worth questioning whether DC’s studio head should be prioritizing one project so heavily, particularly when it means focusing on a relatively obscure character instead of major heroes like Batman and Wonder Woman who haven’t yet appeared in the new DC Universe.

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2026-03-09 22:05