Peacemaker star John Cena on how TV series humanises antihero

To the unfortantes who haven’t yet seen The Suicide Squad — the TV series following the tale of antihero Peacemaker, starring John Cena, is a must.

John Cena is literally putting his ass on the line for his new television show Peacemaker.

Barely five minutes into the first episode of the show, a spin-off from The Suicide Squad and set in the DC universe, we get to see the former wrestling star’s glistening butt cheeks poking out of a hospital gown.

“I have contractual demands, it’s very fair to say,” Cena says, deadpan.

It’s one of but many — or even “butt” many — hilarious moments in this tale of an antihero who’s being given another chance to try and make up for his mistakes.

“I read the material before we filmed it and if I thought anything was inappropriate or — I can’t believe I’m using this word — gratuitous, if it wasn’t meant to add to the comedy or if I felt you’re throwing something like that away, there’s no sense in doing it,” he says.

“I love the first ep, because it really, really humanises Peacemaker.

John Cena stars as Peacemaker. Picture: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

“You see this guy, who’s the luckiest guy to be alive (after he was seemingly killed off in The Suicide Squad, only to miraculously survive in the end credits) … and then his ass is in the wind.

“Throughout the episode he has these defining moments that humanise him and take him off that high horse.

“I really love it, I love those moments, every one of them has meaning and nothing is thrown away. It really is special to see moments like that, with my ass in the wind, it actually has meaning and gravity and truly helps the audience to relate.”

Peacemaker, for those unfortunates who didn’t see the brilliant The Suicide Squad, is more of a vigilante than superhero, willing and even eager to kill criminals to bring “peace” to America.

Now he’s been recruited for another impossible mission that sees him facing off against a whole horde of baddies, with a bickering team of agents as his back-up, as well as his pet eagle “Eagly” and his even more violent mate Vigilante (Freddie Stroma).

It’s violent, it’s action-packed and it’s very funny. It’s also written and directed by James Gunn, the genius behind Guardians Of The Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, who also joins the interview.

Cena delivers a completely believable performance, giving what could be a caricature a real depth and humanity, which is all the more amazing given his wrestling background.

Actor John Cena enjoys his role as Peacemaker in the new TV series. Picture: Alex Hooks/NBC

“I’m grateful to not be the smartest person in the room and I hope I never am,” Cena says. “I’m a storyteller, I’ve been telling stories in the venue of live entertainment for two decades and I feel very comfortable in that environment.

“This is still storytelling but in an unfamiliar format for me. To get the best out of me, I have to rely on those who’ve been there and those with wisdom.

“(James) is that veteran who can grab me by the hand and get the best out of me and I can get the nugget of wisdom he’s trying to bestow.”

One of the fascinating aspects about the show is that we discover Peacemaker is the product of being raised by a violent, racist father (played by former Terminator Robert Patrick).

“He’s not a guy you want to model your life after,” director James Gunn says dryly.

“This is a story about a guy who takes for granted everything he reads on Google or Twitter and wants to please his father. But this story opens up his eyes a bit.

“Peacemaker is emblematic of a certain section of our society but I think his relationship with Danielle Brooks (who plays the black lesbian agent Leota) … they come from very opposite ends of the spectrum but they meet in the middle and it shows how people who are very different can come to have love for each other. Peacemaker is a journey about these thoughts and ideals.”

John Cena and Freddie Stroma in Peacemaker. Picture: HBO

It could also be a vehicle for Cena to follow fellow wrestling star Dwayne Johnson into entertainment superstardom.

Johnson’s antihero movie Black Adam is due out in the middle of the year and, seeing as the pair of them acted together in Fast And Furious 9, I suggest Cena could send Johnson some scenes of how to be an antihero, such as the one where Peacemaker sings karaoke while using a vibrator as a microphone.

“Maybe the message would be confused,” Cena says carefully.

“That is an idea, I don’t know if that is a hand I want to play … in fact now you’ve brought it to my attention and I have had a chance to think about it, that is a hand that I’ll choose to fold!”

You could make a case that Peacemaker is a metaphor for today’s America but Cena says he wants them to be entertained first.

“If people watch Peacemaker and from that they get to lean into the state of the USA, or global politics or the state of the world we’re in …, if that’s what they want to take away and engage in, that’s great,” he says.

“But if they just watch the show and it brings a smile to their face, that’s great too. Goal number one is to be entertained. And anything that can make you laugh, cry and think — that’s one hell of a day.”

Gunn echoes Cena’s thoughts.

“The show is about being with people who think differently to you and being able to look beyond, to the person who is behind those thoughts … and that is the beginning of something that is truly peaceful,” he says.

“Maybe, at the end, his name isn’t as ironic as at the beginning of the show.”

Peacemaker is on Binge, with the first three episodes released this week and new episodes dropping each Thursday.

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Originally published as Peacemaker star John Cena on how TV series humanises antihero