The DC star was there for the launch of Gunn’s DC Studios between “Superman” and “Peacemaker” season 2.

John Cena recalls James Gunn’s acting note that birthed Peacemaker for EW’s 2025 Entertainers of the Year tribute

The DC star was there for the launch of Gunn's DC Studios between "Superman" and "Peacemaker" season 2.

December 10, 2025 2:00 p.m. ET

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EW Entertainer of the Year James Gunn, honored by John Cena. Credit:

Michael Loccisano/WireImage/Getty Images; Theo Wargo/GA/Getty Images

*Ask anyone who works with the director and DC Studios co-head and they'll likely say the same thing: "In James Gunn we trust." *

*The phrase became a rallying chant this past summer for the cast of *Superman* (written and directed by Gunn), but it gained more momentum with the HBO rollout of *Peacemaker* season 2 this fall. John Cena, the actor behind the gunslinging multiverse-hopping antihero of both superhero projects, agrees with that statement. *

*He sat shotgun to Gunn's superstar year as the filmmaker began his movie- and TV-spanning vision for DC Studios — even becoming a public-facing star in his own right with an active social media presence and even a small role on the animated *Rick and Morty*. Cena pays tribute to Gunn, one of **'s Entertainers of the Year, whom he credits for his own career achievements.*

***Check back all week as ** reveals more of our 2025 Entertainers of the Year.***

John Cena as Peacemaker on 'Peacemaker' season 2.

Jessica Miglio/HBO Max

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James isn't trying to do anything except make entertaining material. I've spent most of my life as a live performer, where you could have an idea of what's entertaining. If the audience doesn't like it, I can immediately pivot because I have feedback right away. When you're in the episodic and film space, you really have to commit to either data or what you feel in your gut.

James does an incredible mix of both, but he makes things he believes in, and he never stops learning. He certainly never stops absorbing film, television, music. He does identify with and loves pop culture. As a writer, as a director, as a storyteller, and as an executive, he's willing to commit. He's not willing to hedge a bet and throw out a blanket statement in an amalgamation of what data says might be entertaining. He's willing to take bold risks and bold swings on things he believes in and stand his ground for the importance of those things.

I really gravitate toward rooms where I'm not the smartest person in the room. I enjoy being surrounded by folks who can satisfy my curiosity and, at the same time, make me a better professional. James, again, bets on what he believes in, which means he has a clear-cut vision of what that is. I operate best when given an objective and guidance and empathy and room to explore, but a general direction of, *This is what we're trying to do*. James makes me so much better. It's not just with me, it's with everyone he works with. Not only is he an idea man and a dreamer, but he's a people person, and he gets the best out of people. The environment he creates on set is one of, "We are doing something special."

James Gunn on the set of 'Superman'.

Jessica Miglio/Warner Bros.

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What I admire about our relationship is, anytime he calls and needs me, I know we're going on some crazy adventure, that I'll feel a part of something greater, and all the while I'll have the eyes of a coach who I trust and believe in and is gonna make me better.

Easiest anecdote is the first day of shooting as Peacemaker. In meeting James for the role, he wanted to do a brief character check to see if I was what he thought people said I was. And I passed, but between the time I got the job and my first day on set, I tried to over-prepare to have an idea of what the character is, to make sure my lines are memorized, to get as fluent as I can with the product that I want to produce. We did a few takes, and James just didn't like what I was doing. I try to move through space and be as coachable as I can. I'm not perfect, and sometimes that's difficult.

He stopped, came over to all of us. In front of everybody, he said, "Don't do this. Just be a douchey, bro-y Captain America." That's an easy note for me to take. The difficult part about a simple note was, I had to abandon all the prep work. I just did it, and I think that's a great description of how much faith and trust I have in James. That's where Peacemaker was born. Peacemaker would've been a very angular, more drill sergeant, regimented, by-the-book military man if it wasn't for James Gunn.

—*As told to Nick Romano*

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