James Gunn Reveals Which GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Star He Intended To Cast As PEACEMAKER Before John Cena

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has revealed that the Peacemaker role was originally written for a Guardians of the Galaxy star, and explains why they ultimately decided against starring in The Suicide Squad.

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By JoshWilding - Sep 10, 2025 02:09 PM EST

Filed Under: Peacemaker

Chris Smith made his live-action debut in 2021's The Suicide Squad, with a post-credits scene setting the stage for the villain to return in his own HBO Max TV series, Peacemaker.

That redeemed the former Task Force X member in the eyes of fans, proving there was much more to Rick Flag Jr.'s killer than initially met the eye. John Cena has done some of the best work of his career as the anti-hero, but James Gunn didn't always have him in mind.

Talking to Howard Stern, the DC Studios co-CEO confirmed that he wrote the Peacemaker character with Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista in mind.

"It was Dave Bautista. He's a good friend of mine," the filmmaker shared. "Obviously, he plays Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, and I wrote the character of Peacemaker for him, and we offered him the role, but he was offered two movies, and we weren't paying him a lot, and so he had to go where the money was."

At least one of those movies is thought to be Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead. It's wild to think how different things might have been had Bautista ended up playing the DCU's Peacemaker, and he missed out on a big recurring role by declining a low-paying gig in The Suicide Squad.

Gunn later said that he'd "always been a fan" of Cena's, and appears to have no regrets about casting another professional wrestler as Chris Smith.

Last year, Bautista was asked about potentially joining James Gunn's DCU. "For forever, it was Bane. When I was younger, I wanted to play Bane; it was like a dream role for me," he shared. "And I got to a point in my career where I just felt like I was just too old to play Bane. I think the physicality of it, at this point in my career and my life, I just wouldn't be able to do the character justice."

The Dune star added, "And then I saw somewhere online that someone posted something of me playing Lex Luthor; an older Lex Luthor. I kind of became obsessed with that idea. Obviously, they moved on from that idea, so at this point, I'm struggling to find my place in the DC universe. But I'd really be up for anything."

You can hear more from Gunn on what might have been with Peacemaker in the player below.

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A post shared by Howard Stern Show (@sternshow)

PEACEMAKER Star John Cena On Facing Stumbly, Mealy-Mouthed Version Of [SPOILER]

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39 Comments

Mrcool210 - 9/10/2025, 2:41 PM

That was a rumor going on for a while that it was gonna be Bautista. Good to see it was at least somewhat legitimate

HashTagSwagg - 9/10/2025, 2:41 PM

He was willing to drop playing Drax after Gunn got fired but know, according to Gunn, he didn't wanna work on another project with him because money?

Mrcool210 - 9/10/2025, 2:43 PM

@HashTagSwagg - He was willing to drop playing Drax after Gunn got fired"

Cause he didn't like playing Drax. So it was probably partially an easy excuse out.

NonPlayerC - 9/10/2025, 3:05 PM

@HashTagSwagg - yeah, he openly stated that between the makeup and Drax being a one trick pony being comedic relief he didnt like playing him if I remember correctly

Laridian - 9/10/2025, 4:10 PM

@HashTagSwagg - Makes perfect sense. Do you take a side character role in TSS, or do you take the lead in a Zach Snyder flick? Seems like a no brainer to me.

DianaGohan - 9/10/2025, 4:20 PM

@NonPlayerC - He actually DID really like playing him in the first Guardians movie. Like yeah the make up was exhaustive and obviously not a fun process to go through (which is a reason also Zoe Saldana is likely NEVER coming back as Gamora in the MCU. Karen Gillian though I don't think has as much issue with it so we may see Nebula again) but Bautista did really like playing Drax since originally though the role did have a lot of comedy to it there was obviously more depth presented in that first movie and the promise of having a larger chance for drama moving forward. I think Bautista was more annoyed at though enjoying working with Gunn that Drax was like 85% comedy starting with Volume 2 and didn't have as much seriousness to him. Like the comedy was still good but that's when he felt the role became one note plus yeah contrary to what he thought, Infinity War/Endgame weren't going to give him much character stuff going against Thanos so yeah it is something he got tired of.

NonPlayerC - 9/10/2025, 4:54 PM

@DianaGohan - yeah I agree, he liked the people he worked with but just wanted more meat for his character. I think he wants to be accepted and thought of as an actor more than a wrestler which is fair

Forthas - 9/10/2025, 2:44 PM

"It was Dave Bautista. He's a good friend of mine..."

Well that definitely qualifies him for that role or any other in a James Gunn DC universe!

FinnishDude - 9/10/2025, 2:52 PM

@Forthas - Yeah, only hack directors keep working with actors, who they get along with and consider friends.

Just look at Sam Raimi, John Carpenter, Christopher Nolan, Ryan Coogler, Tim Burton, Martin Scorsese and Kevin Smith. None of then never amounted to anything.

WalletsClosed - 9/10/2025, 2:55 PM

@FinnishDude - All of who you named casts other people that fit their roles. Gunn casts his friends no matter what

Forthas - 9/10/2025, 2:59 PM

@FinnishDude - So because a director "amounted to anything" cronyism is OK. I hope you lose a job to a person due to a personal relationship with the boss so you can congratulate them if they amount to something.

NonPlayerC - 9/10/2025, 3:12 PM

@Forthas - who is the director that never works with the same cast? Gunn may do it a bit more than others (maybe) but go back to Hitchcock and others and they do the same. I used to be a contractor, I found a few good guys for scaffold work and some good guys for civil work. I would hire them as subcontractors every chance I got because they did good work and I enjoyed working with them. This is pretty much how every industry works. The world is about who you know just as much as its about hard work. Not saying its right but its not wrong either if they can do the job

FinnishDude - 9/10/2025, 3:31 PM

@WalletsClosed - What is this? James Gunn giving the leading role to a man he didn't intially want to even audition and didn't have a prior relationship before, but cast him anyway, because he was right pick?!

https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/james-gunn-did-not-want-chris-pratt-for-guardians-of-the-galaxy-why-audition-happened

FinnishDude - 9/10/2025, 3:37 PM

@Forthas - You talk like every single actor in a Gunn project is a chilhood friend of his or something, when every single one has people he hadn't worked with before in high-profile roles after an audition progress. Heck, in this very case, he hired actor he hadn't worked with before, after the friend he offered it to first didn't take it.

And in every single field people offer jobs to people they know can do said job.

Heck, I'm currently directing a play and I cast 90% of the roles by asking people who I already knew, because I know what kind of talents they have and could kill it in said roles.

Forthas - 9/10/2025, 3:45 PM

@NonPlayerC -

"Gunn may do it a bit more than others (maybe)"

You know good and well that Gunn does is more than "a bit"! There is nothing wrong with a director working with an actor more than once especially if they fit a role very well. In the case of James Gunn it is excessive and blatant. His family members (Jennifer Holland, and Sean Gunn) and close fiends (Michael Rooker, Alan Tudyk, Nathan Fillian and Pom Klementieff) have ALL been cast in at least two to as many as four different roles in the DCU. James Gunn represents everything wrong with Hollywood.

Forthas - 9/10/2025, 3:51 PM

@FinnishDude - "...and I cast 90% of the roles by asking people who I already knew, because I know what kind of talents they have and could kill it in said roles."

You really DON"T know for sure if you do not hold auditions. If they are your friends then quite frankly you are biased. My background is in economics and one of the tenets of a effective capitalist system is you hire the best person for the job. Not doing so might undermine the impact of the play that you are directing and you are not in any position to detrmione that.

Mongrol - 9/10/2025, 4:00 PM

@Forthas -

Hacks like Nolan regularly casting actors he knows.

TheNameIsWayne - 9/10/2025, 5:04 PM

@Forthas - The Cohen Brothers and Tim Burton whom are legendary directors cast their wives in lead roles!!! Michael Cain is in almost every Nolan movie and Robert De Niro is in almost every Scorcese filnm!

Gunn who is not even close to their level, has his brother cast as all side characters with about 5 minutes of screen time.

He cast his wife as a lead in an ensemble cast show with other characters having similar if not more screentime than her! And mere cameos in movies!

What are you going on about here?

TheNameIsWayne - 9/10/2025, 5:11 PM

@Forthas - I work in the software industry and it relies on who you know to get around the corporate sector and be successful. My Father founded a software company and hired me fresh out of university with zero technical background. I started working in minor roles and slowly started taking over and implemented my very unorthadox methods that someone with a technical background would never do and I grew the business 3x. Its been 10 years now and I have done the same for others, making friends with the right people and adding them to my team who do great work. Its all about who you know

BobGarlen - 9/10/2025, 2:48 PM

I'll be honest, idk if it's how I view Dave as an actor or giving props to Cena but I could not see Dave in that role. I always imagined that it was actually Bane and re-written to be Peacemaker when Dave turned it down.

lazlodaytona - 9/10/2025, 2:50 PM

Bautista for Bane!

TheNewYorkerr - 9/10/2025, 2:52 PM

So instead of going with a man, he had to go with a man-baby. Worked out for the best I suppose.

Laridian - 9/10/2025, 4:07 PM

@TheNewYorkerr - Cena is perfect casting.

WalletsClosed - 9/10/2025, 2:54 PM

This guy only casts his friends and no one else

jasonvoorhees - 9/10/2025, 3:10 PM

@WalletsClosed - And his bed bunny.

TheVisionary25 - 9/10/2025, 3:01 PM

Interesting…

I honestly can’t see Bautista as this version of Peacemaker but I do remember Gunn saying I think that he envisioned the character moreso as a rigid Full Metal Jacket-esque military drill sergeant but it was Cena apparently that portrayed him in TSS as he did as this douchey & bro-y Captain America which Gunn liked and this he ran with it as we see in the show itself.

Anyway , I have always liked Cena on screen as this charismatic guy with comedic chops but it’s his dramatic ability that’s been really elevated by this character & series thus far that has impressed me the most…

It’s Cena who has played the vulnerability and the real “Chris Smith” who is a sad man-child trying to find redemption & growth that has endeared us to him imo alongside Gunn’s writing so kudos to them both!!.

HashTagSwagg - 9/10/2025, 3:20 PM

Wish Castor returned

Polaris - 9/10/2025, 3:39 PM

I feel like it wasn't Gunn's place to say it was about money, not that's anything wrong with it but Idk

TheVisionary25 - 9/10/2025, 4:12 PM

@Polaris - I get ya…

He was I guess being honest but there is a thing as being honest to a fault.

ModHaterSLADE - 9/10/2025, 3:39 PM

I'd rather see Bautista as Hugo Strange.

Laridian - 9/10/2025, 4:07 PM

@ModHaterSLADE - Exactly. He's built a lot more like Strange now anyway.

ModHaterSLADE - 9/10/2025, 4:11 PM

@Laridian - Yup, just needs the badass beard.

TheLobster - 9/10/2025, 3:42 PM

I love Bautista but Cena is much better for the role.

Laridian - 9/10/2025, 4:06 PM

@TheLobster - 100% agree.

Laridian - 9/10/2025, 4:13 PM

Batista is a really good actor and he can deliver his lines in a soft but strong way. I think he'd be perfect to take on the role of The Swamp Thing if Mangold's script ever gets finished.

WEAPONXOXOXO - 9/10/2025, 4:18 PM

TheVisionary25 - 9/10/2025, 4:19 PM

Given that he’s recently slimmed down , I think he could still work for Bane via cg enhancement when the Venom is pumped into his system…

Other choices imo are Vandal Savage , Hugo Strange & Wildcat.

AC1 - 9/10/2025, 4:23 PM

Things worked out for the best, Cena is great as Peacemaker and I'm really hoping Dave joins the DCU as Hugo Strange, he'd be perfect for the role

DianaGohan - 9/10/2025, 4:26 PM

You know especially in The Suicide Squad you can really tell by Peacemaker's dialogue and role in the group he was going for a sort of Drax esque character except this one would be revealed to be so for the mission he would ultimately come across as a villain before taken out. Though yeah when working on The Suicide Squad I think Gunn did have backstories for all the characters he thought of and had the idea of what Christopher Smith went to which made him realize "okay there is an arc for this guy I want to do more with it" that led to the Peacemaker TV show.

Though I can see why Dave Bautista turned it down and not just for the money. Like much as he loved James Gunn he has expressed annoyance in how much comedy relief Drax became starting in Guardians 2 and didn't have much drama to him and became one note which I can see being annoying especially for this kind of wrestler to play. And like even if Peacemaker had a bit more bite to him a lot of that role is still in the comedy until we get to Peacemaker going against Rick Flag for like 5 minutes there isn't much seriousness to the character. So I get Bautista passing. Like I'm pretty sure he would have loved the role if he had the chance considering it not only requires not really any make up but by the Peacemaker show there is much more to him to explore as an actor but by that point Cena pretty much had his stamp on it so you can't think of much of what ifs at that state.

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James Gunn Reveals Which GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Star He Intended To Cast As PEACEMAKER Before John Cena

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has revealed that the Peacemaker role was originally written for a Guardians of the Galaxy star, and explains why they ultimately decided against starring in The Suicide Squad.

PEACEMAKER Star John Cena On Facing "Stumbly, Mealy-Mouthed" Version Of [SPOILER]

PEACEMAKER Spoiler Stills Reveal First Official Look At DCEU Character Return

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.