DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn and the Peacemaker crew were taken by surprise while filming promotional content for Season 2, as they discovered that Warner Bros. Discovery would be reverting the streaming service's name back to HBO Max. The unexpected announcement, which came earlier today, left not just fans but also key figures at DC Studios bewildered.
The decision to switch back from Max to HBO Max, set to take place this summer, has stirred quite a bit of confusion. The official X account of the soon-to-be-renamed Max captured the candid reactions of Gunn and Peacemaker star John Cena, who were in the midst of promoting the upcoming season debuting on August 21.
As Gunn was reading from a teleprompter about where to watch Peacemaker Season 2, he was visibly surprised to see the script still referring to HBO Max instead of Max. His reaction was caught on camera as he questioned the change, only to be informed that it was indeed happening and would be announced at the Upfront.
"God, we're calling it HBO Max – what?" Gunn exclaimed in disbelief. "We're calling it HBO Max again?" The confusion was shared by other crew members, including DC Studios Co-CEO Peter Safran, creating a humorous and somewhat chaotic scene on set. Despite the surprise, Gunn expressed a positive outlook on the rebrand, saying, "That’s good, actually, but I didn’t know that was happening."
In contrast, John Cena appeared to be well-informed about the rebrand and was seen breaking the news to those behind the camera, adding to the light-hearted confusion of the moment.
While some speculate that this could be a clever publicity stunt by the HBO Max team, the genuine reactions from Gunn and the crew have provided entertainment and laughs for fans.
That's good actually. pic.twitter.com/b3WNWOsyT2
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
POV: finding out about the rebrand from @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/eyQxhTcJrs
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
HBO Max initially launched in 2020, offering a wide range of streaming content. The name remained unchanged until 2023 when Warner Bros. Discovery, following their merger, decided to simplify the name to Max. After two years of adjustment, the company has now decided to revert to the original HBO Max branding.
No specific date for the rebrand has been announced yet. As fans await further updates on both the streaming service's name change and Peacemaker Season 2, they can explore other anticipated DC projects slated for 2025 and delve into the latest trailer insights for Peacemaker Season 2.
