The strained relationships showcased throughout Peacemaker explore the value of family, says series star John Cena.
In Peacemaker, Cena's Christopher Smith returns home and tries to reconnect with his father, Auggie, played by Robert Patrick. Unfortunately, Auggie responds with an icy demeanor, rejecting his son. Cena says that he enjoyed the complex dynamic between Peacemaker and his pop, which he found one of the show's most relatable elements.
As the actor explained to SFX Magazine, "It addresses a very important thing that all of us can relate to, and that's the sometimes uncomfortable dysfunction of family." The dysfunctional dynamic between father and son can be seen multiple times in Peacemaker, highlighting the similarities between the two Smiths.
Additionally, Peacemaker's mission will present Christopher with an opportunity to address the impact that his father's actions had on his values. Cena says that themes of change and growth flow throughout Peacemaker, as Christopher reevaluates his upbringing and the reality of his father's toxic perspective on masculinity. "I never want to tell people how to feel or think when they watch something, but I really love the fact that it hits on a lot of stuff about what family means to us, searching for approval of others, how to live your life, and nature versus nurture and how we're raised."
As Peacemaker struggles to come to terms with his past, the anti-hero begins to reconsider his future as a hired hitman for the United States government moving forward. The series' trailer shows that Christopher will be at odds with Chukwudi Iwuji's Clemson Murn after he orders Peacemaker to kill a group of kids on behalf of "Project Butterfly." Despite this tension, Cena says that Peacemaker will become quite close with some of his new coworkers, with whom he forms a surrogate family. The actor points out Danielle Brooks' Leota Adebayo as a particularly crucial part of his character's journey, claiming that she will be Peacemaker's voice of reason. "There's a moment in the trailer where Adebayo is like, 'Man, if you were just Chris every once in a while, that wouldn't be so effing bad!' I think she's the one person that creates a safe environment for maybe him to be him."
Though Peacemaker aims to examine the man behind the chrome helmet, the anti-hero will still have his fair share of fun-loving friends. Freddie Stroma plays Vigilante, a distinct attorney with limited healing abilities that joins Peacemaker in the field. Furthermore, the series will feature Eagly, an American bald eagle who is Peacemaker's best friend and pet. Director James Gunn claims that Eagly "steals the show," providing some of Peacemaker's best moments.
Peacemaker hits HBO Max on Jan. 13, 2022.
Source: SFX Magazine, via GamesRadar+