James Gunn, John Cena Shocked by HBO Max Rebrand

DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn and the Peacemaker crew were caught off guard while filming promotional content for Season 2, as Warner Bros. Discovery announced the return of the HBO Max name. The unexpected news led to some hilarious and bewildered reactions from the team.

The decision to revert the streaming service's name from Max back to HBO Max, announced earlier today, left many, including some of DC's biggest names, puzzled. The change will see the apps revert to the original HBO Max branding this summer.

The official X account of the soon-to-be-renamed Max shared videos capturing the reactions of Gunn and Peacemaker star John Cena following the announcement. In the footage, Gunn and Cena are seen reading from a teleprompter, promoting the upcoming Season 2 of Peacemaker, set to debut on August 21.

Gunn's surprise was evident when he read "HBO Max" from the script instead of "Max." He expressed his astonishment, saying, "God, we’re calling it HBO Max – what? We’re calling it HBO Max again?" Other crew members, including DC Studios Co-CEO Peter Safran, added to the confusion, making for a humorous moment on camera. Gunn, however, welcomed the change, stating, "That’s good, actually, but I didn’t know that was happening."

Cena, on the other hand, seemed well-informed about the rebrand and was seen breaking the news to those behind the camera in his video.

While it's possible that this could be a clever publicity stunt by the HBO Max team, the genuine reactions from the DC Studios crew added a layer of humor to the situation.

HBO Max initially launched in 2020 as a comprehensive streaming platform. It retained its name until 2023 when Warner Bros. Discovery, after its merger, decided to simplify it to Max. Now, after two years, the company has reversed course, deciding that HBO Max is indeed a better fit.

No specific date has been set for the rebrand's implementation. As fans await further updates on both HBO Max and Peacemaker Season 2, they can explore other notable DC projects slated for 2025 and delve into the latest trailer insights for Peacemaker Season 2.