Yahoo News Suicide Squad's James Gunn explains why Peacemaker was chosen as first spin-off
The Suicide Squad director James Gunn has specified why he made a Peacemaker TV spin-off.
Exploring the origins of John Cena's muscle-bound anti-hero and his questionable world-saving antics post-Suicide Squad, this one boasts 90% on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of public release next week.
Speaking to Supes, the man who also popularised Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy weighed in on continuing this character.
Related: Suicide Squad boss James Gunn shares new update on Peacemaker's UK release
"Number one, I really got along with John Cena. We became really good friends," he revealed. "He's a funny guy and I thought it would be fun to continue working with him.
"I also think that a lot of the other characters we saw in The Suicide Squad, we saw big changes in them. Ratcatcher-2 changed a lot. Bloodsport changed a lot. Polka-Dot Man changed a lot. Peacemaker kind of remained the unrepentant SOB that he was at the beginning of the movie and I knew that there was a lot deeper to go with the character.
"John and I had talked about where the character came from, who he was, who his father was, and all these different things that we didn't get to see in the movie. So, I knew there was a lot more story there to explore."
Related: The Suicide Squad spin-off show first look revealed
Moving on from their bromance, the filmmaker switched to how Peacemaker took advantage of the small-screen format.
"I do think that the TV format, it brings you a lot of freedom that film doesn't. Film, is so short, you have to keep that plot going from scene to scene.
"In the Peacemaker show, we were able to take a lot of risks, a lot of chances, explore dramatic elements that we aren't able to do in a movie, explore comedy in a way that we aren't, and have incredibly long, incredibly high octane action sequences that take place in every single episode.
"It really just is everything I love: comedy, drama, action, all in one TV series that doesn't take itself too seriously but in other ways takes itself very seriously," added Gunn.
Peacemaker will be released on HBO Max on January 13, 2022 in the US. The Suicide Squad is available to rent now and can be pre-ordered on DVD and Blu-ray.
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