Gunn, Cena Surprised by HBO Max Rebrand

DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn and other members of the Peacemaker crew were caught off guard by Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to revert the streaming service name back to HBO Max while filming promotional content for Season 2. Their reactions, captured on camera, are nothing short of priceless.

The announcement from HBO's parent company to undo the rebrand from Max to HBO Max this summer left many, including some of DC's biggest names, utterly confused. This surprising move was revealed earlier today, and the soon-to-be-renamed Max's official X account didn't waste time sharing the recorded reactions of Gunn and Peacemaker star John Cena following the announcement.

In the footage, Gunn and Cena are seen reading from a teleprompter, urging audiences to watch Peacemaker Season 2, set to debut on August 21. As Gunn reads his lines, he stumbles upon the name "HBO Max" instead of "Max," and his real-time reaction to the unexpected change is captured. He expresses his surprise, saying, "God, we’re calling it HBO Max – what? We’re calling it HBO Max again?" Other crew members, including DC Studios Co-CEO Peter Safran, join in the confusion, creating a humorous moment on film. Gunn, however, quickly notes his approval of the change, stating, "That’s good, actually, but I didn’t know that was happening."

In contrast, John Cena appears to be in the know, as his video shows him informing the crew behind the camera about the rebrand. These reactions could be part of a clever publicity stunt by the HBO Max team, but regardless, it's entertaining to see DC Studios' key figures respond to the streamer's latest rebranding efforts.

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. It retained its name until 2023, when the newly merged Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would drop the "HBO" and rebrand as simply "Max." After two years of adjusting to the new name, the company has now decided to revert back to HBO Max.

While a specific release date for the rebrand has not yet been announced, fans can stay updated on both HBO Max and Peacemaker Season 2. In the meantime, you can explore the most anticipated DC projects slated for 2025 and delve into the key highlights from the latest trailer for Peacemaker Season 2.