James Gunn’s bombastic HBO Max Original, Peacemaker, has already proven itself to be far more than a silly spin-off from The Suicide Squad. Many consider Peacemaker to be one of the best TV shows of 2022. Television series that peel back the layers of engaging DC figures are nothing new, but Peacemaker has done an excellent job at humanizing one of The Suicide Squad’s most aggressive and unrepentant characters. Peacemaker puts him alongside a charismatic support system of regular individuals.
Peacemaker is one of James Gunn’s most passionate and undiluted projects where he’s allowed unprecedented freedom. Gunn’s creativity is always on display in this series, but it’s most visible in Peacemaker’s hypnotic opening title sequence, which is set to Wig Wam’s Do Ya Wanna Taste It.
9 Gunn's Intention Was To Banish The "Skip Intro" Button
The current trends in streaming and binge-watching have opened many doors for television shows and serialized storytelling, but streaming also encourages certain habits. Streaming services like Netflix have integrated “Skip Intro” features that are meant to simplify the viewing experience during extended binge sessions.
Gunn’s aim with Peacemaker’s title sequence was to create something so strange and captivating that the audience would watch it every episode and never skip it. It’s a welcome step away from the trend of reducing the title sequence to a few seconds with a title card.
8 It Foreshadows The Season's Plot
Peacemaker’s title sequence is silly and playful, which always makes for an entertaining watch. However, eagle-eyed viewers might notice that the lyrics of the song, and the movements of the dance, actually foreshadow the trajectory of Peacemaker’s first season.
Gunn has confirmed this and spoken about reverse-engineering the use of Do Ya Wanna Taste It from the season finale’s fight sequence, knowing that the episodes would culminate in this way. Even the refrain of “do ya’ wanna’ taste it” is meant to reference Harcourt’s near-death experience with the Butterflies.
7 It's Written Into The Script As "The Greatest Opening Credits Scene Of All Time"
It can be fascinating to learn about the level of detail that writers will put into their scripts, especially when they know that they’ll be the ones directing the material. Supplemental material-like title sequences can be handled by an entirely different team and it’s quite rare that they’re actually scripted into the shooting drafts.
Gunn emphasizes how important Peacemaker’s opening title number is by meticulously building it into the script. His pages refer to it as “the greatest opening credits scene of all time” and it intentionally creates the unrealistic expectations that surround this spectacle.
6 It Was Filmed In A High School Auditorium
It’s hard to deny the unusual energy that drives all of the performers’ actions in Peacemaker’s title sequence. However, it’s fair to say that these manic gesticulations wouldn’t have the same impact if they were taking place in a different environment.
Peacemaker’s credits occur in a void of sorts, which was actually filmed in a high school auditorium. This approach works, but Gunn’s original plan was to shoot the sequence in the Project Butterfly headquarters and make use of that space. The Project Butterfly Headquarters proved to be too cramped for the sequence's wild choreography, though.
5 The Set Design Went Through Several Changes
The synchronized dance that the cast of Peacemaker performs is the centerpiece of the opening title sequence. Another element that contributes to its odd atmosphere is the set dressing that accompanies their stage. Gunn’s first impulse was to have the cast perform this dance on a set that resembled a 1970s variety show.
However, he and production designer Lisa Soper couldn’t find the right look. They shifted their vision to resemble the aesthetic of 1980s band performances, like the stage setup for a Kraftwerk show.
4 Alan Tudyk Subbed In For John Cena During Some Rehearsals
Hidden cameos have become a growing trend in comic book adaptations. Some are orchestrated by the studios while others are just natural coincidences. For example, Peacemaker’s title sequence required intense rehearsals from its participants, some of whom couldn’t always be present.
Alan Tudyk is a talented actor who has also shown up along the fringes of different DC television shows, like the animated Harley Quinn and Doom Patrol. Tudyk briefly stepped in for John Cena during some of the title sequence’s rehearsal, but simply because he’s married to Peacemaker’s choreographer, Charissa-Lee Barton. It’s a random and entertaining easter egg.
3 It Was Filmed In The Middle Of The Season
TV shows' title sequences can be their own productions that get figured out after the series has wrapped principal photography or are the first thing that gets filmed. Gunn’s strategy with Peacemaker follows neither of these approaches. The title sequence was actually shot when it was convenient, which was during the middle of the season.
However, this led to some unique hurdles for some of Peacemaker’s guest stars who perform in the title sequence. Rizwan Manji had to travel back to Canada, and undergo his third two-week quarantine, just to be included in this silly sequence. It’s a testament to how much everyone loved this odd intro.
2 The Title's Typography Font Went Through Many Revisions
The final element of the Peacemaker title sequence that graces the series is the actual title itself. The Sarofsky video production service handled the creative titles and typography for Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, so it was also a natural fit to help bring Peacemaker’s title to life.
Curiously, Sarofsky turned to different 'hair metal' band typographies for inspiration, but many of these stylistic approaches looked borderline illegible. Ultimately, it’s the angular New Zelek font that’s used for Peacemaker’s title, which is distinct but still easy to read.
1 It's Going To Be Even Crazier In Season Two
Season one of Peacemaker has only recently ended but HBO Max assures its audiences that it has already secured a second season, which will still be written and directed by James Gunn. Season Two's plot details are still in development, but Gunn has been somewhat candid about the future of Peacemaker’s title sequence. Peacemaker’s intro is so much fun that it’d be easy to keep it the same throughout the show’s run.
That being said, changing cast members and plot details are solid reasons to create another bonkers piece of choreographed magic. Gunn promises that season two’s credits will be even crazier, so it’s encouraging to learn that something new will be in store.