Felix Upton on July 27, 2025
John Cena has played everything from action heroes to animated bulls, but when it comes to picking his favorite role, he didn’t hesitate: it’s Peacemaker.
Speaking at FAN EXPO Denver 2025, Cena opened up about why the character means so much to him—and the answer had nothing to do with fame or streaming numbers. Instead, he got real about rejection, humility, and earning your spot in a world where you’re rarely the first choice.
“Favorite role is Peacemaker—and I’ll tell you why. Thank you so much. I was not James Gunn’s first pick. And I like that. I like being the desperate last pick. I don’t like being anybody’s favorite.”
He then compared his underdog journey in Hollywood to his early struggles in WWE.
“I was never first pick in WWE. I had a great run and there was a point where, if Cena wins, we riot. But gosh—it took like 10 years to inch toward that. I was never, out of the shoot, like, ‘Ah, you’re the guy.’ I always had to earn it.”
Cena even reminded the crowd where his journey started.
“I turned heel against Billy Kidman on Velocity—a program no one even remembers.”
He then revealed that James Gunn actually killed off Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad, but brought him back because of the connection they formed.
“So James didn’t have me in mind first. And then he killed me in The Suicide Squad. And we had so much fun making that movie, he broke his rule of never bringing back someone he killed.”
That reversal—being underestimated and then becoming unforgettable—made the entire experience unforgettable for Cena.
“So for someone to expect very little out of me and choose me last—and for me to make such an impression on such a brilliant creative mind that he breaks a cardinal rule that he has—and for us to go on to do good work together and develop a great friendship… man, that’s one hell of a day at the office.”
From WWE dark matches to headlining an HBO Max series, Cena’s underdog story just keeps evolving—and for him, that’s what makes Peacemaker the role of a lifetime.
Do you think John Cena was born to play Peacemaker, or was he just the right guy at the right time? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
July 27, 2025 7:19 am
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