James Gunn was blown away by John Cena's leap in acting ability in Peacemaker season 2: "This guy has gotten so much better over the past two years"

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Exclusive: Peacemaker creator James Gunn lauds John Cena's performance in season 2

Peacemaker season 2
(Image credit: HBO)

John Cena is often heralded as one of Hollywood's finest wrestlers-turned-actors, but perhaps he should now be known as a great actor. Period.

DC Studios boss and Peacemaker writer-director James Gunn certainly has nothing but praise for Cena in Peacemaker season 2, noting that the actor has been a working project of Gunn's since the first season.

"One of the reasons I started doing Peacemaker was because I saw the opportunity – somebody who had potential to be a great actor and didn't really have much guidance in that; he didn't have much training," Gunn tells GamesRadar+. "So, one of the fun things for me about doing Peacemaker was working with John and giving him the ability to be able to fulfil his potential."

Gunn continues, "In season two – I hadn't worked with John for two years. I'd only talked to him socially – he came into that first scene… and I said, 'I think you're going to break down crying.' I just was absolutely not prepared for John, who just instantly has tears rushing down his face and breaks down into sobs. And I went, 'Wow, this guy has gotten so much better over the past two years as an actor.'"

Grillo agrees, saying, " I just think he's a natural actor. I find him to be very present, always present and believable. He brings a lot of levity – without being schmaltzy – to a lot of what he does. He's a phenomenally gifted actor. In that world of professional wrestling, they're entertaining, they're all playing characters. So, there's nothing new for him, but he's really good at it. He really is."

Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

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