James Gunn shared that directing a particular scene in Peacemaker Season 2 initially caused him discomfort. The DC Universe series, which stars John Cena as Christopher Smith/Peacemaker, released its second season on HBO Max in August 2025.
Peacemaker Season 2, a creation of James Gunn, features an ensemble cast including Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Adrian Chase/Vigilante, Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt, and Steve Agee as John Economos. The show continues to develop its complex characters and relationships within the DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television framework.
The Kiss Scene That Challenged James Gunn
During an episode of the official Peacemaker podcast, Gunn and his wife Jennifer Holland, who plays Emilia Harcourt, talked openly about the challenging kiss scene between Holland’s character and John Cena’s Christopher Smith in the season finale. Gunn revealed that directing this intimate moment was more technical and rehearsed than usual, which contributed to his discomfort.
Jennifer Holland described the experience as unusual, saying,
“I mean, I also understand that it must be weird seeing your wife kiss another person. I don’t ever think about it like that, though. When two actors are on screen, it feels so technical.”
Gunn detailed the complexities, explaining the use of a Phantom camera and slow-motion filming. He said the actors had to perform the kiss repeatedly in precise movements, including Holland standing on a lazy Susan while the camera circled them, creating a highly controlled environment. Gunn admitted,
“…It wasn’t only that I had to direct you kissing a man, I had to direct you kissing a man in front of, like, 200-300 extras or more, a lot of whom were fans. Just the whole thing was kind of weird. Before it happened, I was uncomfortable about it, admittedly. I was like, ‘I don’t want to do this.’ But then once we were doing it, I didn’t give a shit. I was totally fine. I was looking at the kiss as like, ‘I’m f—ing loving it,’ because it’s these beautiful shots. Some of our best shots ever in this series are in that sequence.”
Impact and Availability of Peacemaker Season 2
This revealing insight into the production highlights the challenges directors face when balancing technical precision with emotional authenticity, especially during emotionally charged scenes. James Gunn’s openness about his uneasy feelings adds depth to understanding the creative difficulties behind the series’ polished final product. Fans of the DCU series can watch all eight episodes of Peacemaker Season 2 now streaming on HBO Max, where the storylines continue to explore loyalty, identity, and heroism.
