Peacemaker showrunner James Gunn really wants you to watch the show’s intro.
During an interview with Polygon, the 55-year-old Peacemaker director explained why the 1980s rock intro on Peacemaker is so important.
“I really wanted to do a dance number where everybody was doing something incredibly ridiculous, and looked incredibly serious while they were doing it,” he said. Gunn explained that it was a way to “vanquish the skip forward button”, encouraging viewers to see the credits for people who worked on the show.
“I thought it was something that would, you know, be a signpost for people that this isn’t just your normal DC or Marvel TV show,” he added.
He’s right, of course. The insane, over-the-top intro really captures the essence of the show, which stars John Cena as The Suicide Squad character, Peacemaker. But it’s not just a bit of fun, either – it also gives us some insight into how the character ticks.
“I think that some of the rock ‘n’ roll stuff that he’s into has actually been a more positive influence on him than, say, his father has been,” said Gunn. Music has clearly been a huge influence on Peacemaker, and Gunn points out that during The Suicide Squad, his dance with Ratcatcher 2 “is the only moment he’s happy in the entire movie.”
Throughout Peacemaker’s debut season, it becomes clear that it’s a huge part of who he is.
“It’s just a part of the story, it’s a part of who the character is,” Gunn said. “I think that it’s just a part of his sort of secret joy that he has with him, you know, that he only practices by himself, for the most part, his relationship to music is a very private thing.”
It’s the same for series star John Cena, who wasn’t exactly thrilled at his musical interludes.
At the end of the show’s pilot episode, he’s forced to perform a dance number in his underwear, to the sound of “I Don’t Love You Anymore” by the Quireboys.
“I don’t dance,” explained Cena. “It’s something I’m not very comfortable with, even in a COVID, restricted environment watching you do your thing.”
“I think it’s more of an expression of him being happy or having a flash of fulfillment or meaning,” he added. “And that’s why it doesn’t need to take any shape or form, it can be off key. It shows a very human side to Peacemaker [...] and I appreciate James for trying to push me into that uncomfortable space because it doesn’t need to be anything more than it is; it’s just a freedom of being fulfilled.”
Thankfully, Cena was more comfortable filming the hilariously deadpan intro. And with the stage set for even more Suicide Squad members to get their own shows, this could be only the beginning.
Read more about Peacemaker with IGN’s spoiler-free review of the show’s premiere.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
Continue reading...
During an interview with Polygon, the 55-year-old Peacemaker director explained why the 1980s rock intro on Peacemaker is so important.
“I really wanted to do a dance number where everybody was doing something incredibly ridiculous, and looked incredibly serious while they were doing it,” he said. Gunn explained that it was a way to “vanquish the skip forward button”, encouraging viewers to see the credits for people who worked on the show.
“I thought it was something that would, you know, be a signpost for people that this isn’t just your normal DC or Marvel TV show,” he added.
He’s right, of course. The insane, over-the-top intro really captures the essence of the show, which stars John Cena as The Suicide Squad character, Peacemaker. But it’s not just a bit of fun, either – it also gives us some insight into how the character ticks.
“I think that some of the rock ‘n’ roll stuff that he’s into has actually been a more positive influence on him than, say, his father has been,” said Gunn. Music has clearly been a huge influence on Peacemaker, and Gunn points out that during The Suicide Squad, his dance with Ratcatcher 2 “is the only moment he’s happy in the entire movie.”
Throughout Peacemaker’s debut season, it becomes clear that it’s a huge part of who he is.
“It’s just a part of the story, it’s a part of who the character is,” Gunn said. “I think that it’s just a part of his sort of secret joy that he has with him, you know, that he only practices by himself, for the most part, his relationship to music is a very private thing.”
It’s the same for series star John Cena, who wasn’t exactly thrilled at his musical interludes.
At the end of the show’s pilot episode, he’s forced to perform a dance number in his underwear, to the sound of “I Don’t Love You Anymore” by the Quireboys.
“I don’t dance,” explained Cena. “It’s something I’m not very comfortable with, even in a COVID, restricted environment watching you do your thing.”
“I think it’s more of an expression of him being happy or having a flash of fulfillment or meaning,” he added. “And that’s why it doesn’t need to take any shape or form, it can be off key. It shows a very human side to Peacemaker [...] and I appreciate James for trying to push me into that uncomfortable space because it doesn’t need to be anything more than it is; it’s just a freedom of being fulfilled.”
Thankfully, Cena was more comfortable filming the hilariously deadpan intro. And with the stage set for even more Suicide Squad members to get their own shows, this could be only the beginning.
Read more about Peacemaker with IGN’s spoiler-free review of the show’s premiere.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
Continue reading...