DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn and the Peacemaker production team appeared to discover Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max rebrand in real-time while filming Season 2 promotional content - and their unfiltered reactions stole the spotlight.
The entertainment world buzzed today as Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would reverse course on its streaming service branding. The surprising decision will see the platform transition back from "Max" to its original "HBO Max" identity later this summer. Even industry insiders seemed caught off guard, as evidenced by priceless behind-the-scenes footage.
The official Max Twitter account shared candid clips featuring Gunn and Peacemaker lead John Cena reacting to the news while recording promotional material for the show's August 21 second season premiere. The authentic moment captures the exact instant they realize their script references the returning HBO Max name rather than the current Max branding.
That's good actually. pic.twitter.com/b3WNWOsyT2
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
"Wait, we're calling it HBO Max again?" Gunn asks in visible confusion, before chuckling, "That's actually good - I just didn't know this was happening." The footage also captures DC Studios co-head Peter Safran and other crew members reacting with a mix of amusement and bewilderment.
Cena's involvement takes an amusing twist - rather than learning about the change, the footage shows him explaining the rebrand to the camera crew. The former WWE champion delivers his explanation with characteristic humor while emphasizing the returning HBO Max branding.
POV: finding out about the rebrand from @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/eyQxhTcJrs
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
Whether meticulously planned marketing or genuine surprise, the organic reactions highlight the entertainment industry's enduring confusion around streaming rebrands. HBO Max originally launched in 2020 before merging with Discovery+ in 2023 and simplifying to "Max." Now, just two years later, the platform is coming full circle.
While Warner Bros. Discovery hasn't announced specific timing for the brand transition, fans can currently enjoy content on the Max platform while anticipating both the rebrand and Peacemaker Season 2's debut. The announcement has already generated significant buzz among DC universe enthusiasts.
