If there’s one creator out there who knows how to have fun with their work while also delivering plenty of solid gut punches to the audience, it’sPeacemaker’s James Gunn. Ranging from his regular social media threads answering fan questions to that one scene inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2(yeah, THAT scene), it’s often painfully clear that he loves toying with fans' emotions as much as he loves making them laugh.
Luckily, today is about the fun, so everybody can slowly unclench.The Suicide SquaddirectorandPeacemakerseries creator just posted an extended gag reel from the show, and it’s an oddly cathartic look into the often uncontrollable laughter happening just offscreen during the uncontrollable laughter from those watching the screen. Not only does Gunn himself demonstrate the undeniably jovial atmosphere behind the scenes ofHBO Max’sPeacemaker, but this little clip show of his also gives some normally stoic faces a chance to really let loose.
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One watch through and viewers will quickly notice something aboutPeacemakerseries lead John Cena: the dude’s deadpan humor game is on point. Whether he’s the focal point of a blooper or just reacting to one, he takes it in stride like if Drax fromGuardians of the Galaxyhad a tight 5. But even before catching that detail, the infectious (and wheezy) laugh of Danielle Brooks cracking during her scenes as Leota Adebayo is surely enough to leave any watcher rolling.
What some may also pick up on is how familiar someouttakes in this gag reellook. Those who watched any givenPeacemakerepisode all the way past the end credits will remember similar clips that felt like genuine shots that were cut for time. Shots like Christopher Heyerdahl as Caspar Locke trying (and failing) to show realistic human emotions while kneeling over the bodies of the officers he’d just killed in the woods. It also drives home just how many takes of Cena ad-libbing lines must have been cut from the final product, because he goes absolutely hog wild.
Everybody gets their time to shine here, including Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt regularly breaking her stone-faced facade to unleash several hearty laughs. Fun fact, she just got engaged to Gunn, so congrats to the happy couple. Heck of a way to celebratePeacemaker’s status as the new most popular streaming series. Fellow stars Steve Agee, Chukwudi Iwuji, and even the gruff and intense Robert Patrick all enjoyed their own moments of levity during the reel, which is helpful for those struggling to separate the latter from his “discount KKK Iron Man” vibe on the show.
Stuff like this goes a long way in humanizing the people behind any given popular series or movie. Gunn has always been transparent about what goes on behind the scenes of his productions, but it’s always super fun to actually see footage of how much fun his cast and crew has on set. Here’s hoping that trend continues throughPeacemakerseason 2and beyond.
