It’s no secret that the DC Extended Universe has not enjoyed the same level of success and mass appeal that their Marvel peers boast. However, with the upcoming The Suicide Squad film and Peacemaker series, DC films will be hoping to capitalize on their star power, especially that of John Cena.
Much in the same vein as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Cena has managed to branch out from the WWE by becoming an internet personality and securing a career in movies that’s only growing further this year, when he’ll appear not only in the aforementioned productions but also in the Fast and Furious 9. Given his widespread popularity, it’s no surprise Cena frequently shows up in late-night TV, like John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight.
Cena’s latest late-night appearance was on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the wrestler turned actor showed up to promote The Suicide Squad, set to release on August 6, and his own spin-off the Peacemaker, which will premiere on HBO Max shortly after. Cena spoke with Fallon directly from the set of Peacemaker in full superhero attire and also discussed his absence from wrestling due to the pandemic, as well as a planned ad for this Super Bowl weekend for Mountain Dew.
Perhaps what is most noteworthy of Cena’s interview with Fallon are his comments on who exactly is the barely known Peacemaker. As Cena puts it, he is the polar opposite of Bruce Wayne, living in a messy single bedroom apartment rather than The Batman’s cave and mansion, a true “douchey, bro-y Captain America”.
Peacemaker is somewhat of an obscure commodity in the DC’s superhero realm, a self-defined pacifist so committed to the cause that he is willing to absolutely and do away with anyone in order to achieve his lofty goals due to his extensive exposure to trauma. Think of a less popular Deadpool, maybe. Peacemaker, alongside Idris Elba’s Bloodsport, are among the characters that will help James Gunn rejuvenate the DCEU’s charm.
With DC films pretty much being hit or miss for Warner Bros., 2021 marks a unique opportunity where box office expectations are pretty low to start with and in which The Suicide Squad will premiere on HBO Max and theaters in what looks to be a film-starved landscape.
The Suicide Squad will be available on HBO Max and in theaters starting August 6, 2021.