James Gunn, John Cena Surprised by HBO Max Rebrand

The entertainment world was taken by surprise when HBO's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, announced the reversion of its streaming service's name from Max back to HBO Max. This unexpected decision, set to take effect this summer, left many in the industry, including key figures at DC Studios, bewildered and amused.

During the filming of promotional content for Peacemaker Season 2, DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn and other crew members were caught off-guard by the news. The official X account of the soon-to-be-renamed Max captured these priceless reactions, showcasing Gunn and Peacemaker star John Cena as they learned about the rebrand in real time. Gunn, reading from a teleprompter, stumbled upon the change when the script referred to HBO Max instead of Max. His confusion was palpable, and he humorously questioned the shift, saying, "God, we’re calling it HBO Max – what? We’re calling it HBO Max again?"

The moment was made even more entertaining with contributions from other crew members, including DC Studios Co-CEO Peter Safran, adding to the confusion and laughter on set. Gunn expressed a positive stance on the change, noting, "That’s good, actually, but I didn’t know that was happening."

John Cena, on the other hand, seemed more in the know. In his video, he was seen breaking the news to those behind the camera, adding another layer of humor to the situation. These candid moments have sparked speculation about whether this was all part of a clever publicity stunt by the HBO Max team, but regardless, the reactions from DC's top brass have been a source of entertainment and discussion.

Originally launched in 2020, HBO Max quickly became a go-to platform for streaming a wide array of content. The name change to Max occurred in 2023 following the merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery. After two years of adjustment, the company has now decided to revert to the original HBO Max name, leaving subscribers to re-adapt to the familiar branding.

No specific date has been set for the rebrand's implementation. As fans await further updates on both the HBO Max rebrand and the highly anticipated Peacemaker Season 2, set to premiere on August 21, they can explore other notable DC projects slated for 2025. Additionally, insights from the latest trailer of Peacemaker Season 2 offer a glimpse into what fans can expect from the upcoming season.