James Gunn’s Peacemaker, a spinoff from The Suicide Squad, underwent a notable casting change when the character Vigilante was recast halfway through the first season’s production. Initially portrayed by Chris Conrad, the role was later taken over by Freddie Stroma, a decision Gunn explained in detail during Peacemaker: The Official Podcast. This unexpected shift was driven by Gunn’s dedication to delivering the best possible version of the show and his anxiety over the character’s portrayal not reaching its full potential.
Set in early 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Peacemaker follows Vigilante—a masked antihero who’s best known as the brutal and secretive Adrian Chase—alongside The Suicide Squad’s Christopher Smith, played by John Cena, and a core team called the 11th Street Kids. This group, including Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), and John Economos (Steve Agee), operate under Amanda Waller’s Project Butterfly to address global threats. Vigilante’s character quickly became a fan favorite, making the decision to recast even more consequential.
Challenges Behind the Casting Change During Production
James Gunn revealed that by the time the crew filmed most of the early episodes, it became clear that Vigilante’s role was not coming together as intended.
“We had shot all of episodes 1 through 5, and we had also shot part of 8. And then we were like, for various reasons, ‘We need to recast the actor,’”
Gunn shared, emphasizing the creative urgency behind the change. He said his personal connection to the show heightened his concerns,
“I was having anxiety at night because I was like, ‘I love this show more than anything I’ve ever done before.’ And one particular part of it wasn’t working as well as it could, and it happened to be everyone’s favorite character in the script.”
Due to pandemic protocols, the new Vigilante actor needed to quarantine before joining the Vancouver-based set, adding a layer of complexity to the already tight shooting schedule. Importantly, the replacement actor had to physically fit into the existing Vigilante suit, as there was no time to create another. Gunn explained,
“We had to find someone who was a certain height to fit into the suit, and it was very difficult. We actually had to cast around the suit because we didn’t have time to make a new suit.”
This constraint heavily influenced the casting process.
Behind the Scenes of the Vigilante Suit and Voice Performance
Jennifer Holland, who plays Emilia Harcourt, provided additional insight into how the original actor’s presence remains in the episodes. She noted that many scenes featuring Vigilante in full costume still used footage of Conrad, with Stroma’s voice dubbed over.
“Through a lot of these episodes in season 1 when you see an actor with the full suit and helmet on, it’s oftentimes the original actor,”
Holland explained.
“[Stroma’s voice] is dubbed over the other actor.”
This approach helped maintain continuity despite the casting switch mid-season.
Though the initial casting departure was described as amicable, reports indicated that Conrad left the show due to creative differences. The production team managed this transition smoothly to minimize disruption to the series narrative and maintain the character’s appeal.
Upcoming Peacemaker Season 2 and Returning Cast
Peacemaker’s second season, premiering on August 21 on HBO Max, will return with star John Cena and several other regulars, including Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick. New cast members joining the ensemble are Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, and Tim Meadows. The continuation promises to build on the success of the first season and explore further adventures under James Gunn’s guidance.
The recasting decision highlighted the carefully considered approach Gunn takes to his projects, especially when a character resonates strongly with fans. By addressing the issue early and adapting for practical challenges like pandemic restrictions and costume fitting, Peacemaker maintained narrative continuity while enhancing overall quality, reflecting the intense creative commitment behind the series.
