In a surprising turn of events, DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn and the crew of "Peacemaker" were caught off guard while filming promotional content for Season 2, as Warner Bros. Discovery announced the reversion of its streaming service name from Max back to HBO Max. The unexpected announcement left many, including Gunn and other DC luminaries, visibly puzzled and amused.
Earlier today, HBO's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, declared that it would be reverting its streaming service to the original HBO Max branding this summer, abandoning the recent Max rebrand. This decision has caused a stir among fans and industry insiders alike, with the official X account of the soon-to-be-renamed Max capturing and sharing the reactions of Gunn and "Peacemaker" star John Cena.
In the footage, Gunn and Cena are seen reading from a teleprompter, promoting "Peacemaker" Season 2, set to debut on August 21. As Gunn reads the script, he stumbles upon the mention of HBO Max, prompting a humorous and bewildered response. "God, we’re calling it HBO Max – what? We’re calling it HBO Max again?" he quips, showing genuine surprise. Other crew members, including DC Studios Co-CEO Peter Safran, also chime in, adding to the light-hearted confusion.
That's good actually. pic.twitter.com/b3WNWOsyT2
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
Despite the initial shock, Gunn expresses a positive stance on the change, stating, "That’s good, actually, but I didn’t know that was happening." Meanwhile, Cena, seemingly more in the know, uses his segment to break the news to those behind the camera, adding another layer of humor to the situation.
POV: finding out about the rebrand from @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/eyQxhTcJrs
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
While some speculate that this could be an elaborate publicity stunt by the HBO Max team, the genuine reactions from the DC Studios team have provided fans with a memorable and entertaining moment. HBO Max, which initially launched in 2020, underwent a rebranding to Max in 2023 following the merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery. Now, after two years, the company has decided to revert to the original HBO Max name, which it believes better resonates with its audience.
As the streaming service prepares for its rebranding, no specific date has been set for the change. In the meantime, fans can look forward to "Peacemaker" Season 2 and explore other notable DC projects slated for 2025. For more updates and insights, be sure to check out the latest trailer and news on "Peacemaker" Season 2.
