James Gunn recently revealed that he originally wrote the role of Peacemaker with his friend Dave Bautista in mind.

Speaking on the Howard Stern Show earlier this month, Gunn explained how the casting process unfolded and how the part ultimately went to another former WWE superstar, John Cena.

James Gunn on Casting Peacemaker

Gunn explained that while the role was offered to Bautista, other factors came into play.

“It was Dave Bautista, who’s a good friend of mine. Obviously, he plays Drax in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ and I wrote the character of Peacemaker for him and we offered him the role, but he was offered two other movies and we weren’t paying him a lot, and so he had to go where the money was, and I had always been a fan of John since ‘Trainwreck‘ especially. I thought he was so, so funny in that movie that I met with him. We talked. We became instant, instant friends, and then since then, you know, I’ve worked with him more than any other actor because I’ve done two seasons of ‘Peacemaker,’ ‘Suicide Squad,’ and we’re gonna be doing more together. So, he is a fantastic guy, a fantastic actor,” Gunn said.

Gunn continued, praising Cena’s acting ability. “I didn’t audition him. I just put him in it, but it was a simple role. It was very much like in ‘Trainwreck,’ and it just got deeper and deeper and there was a moment on the set of ‘The Suicide Squad‘ where I went to this close up of John, and I went all the way in on his eyes, and I saw the stuff that was occurring behind his eyes and I thought, ‘Wow. This guy could really act,’ and I think if you see in season two, he is absolutely not only funny, not only grounded, but also incredibly emotional, and I can’t wait for people to see the rest of the season. I think I love the Peacemaker show more than anything else I’ve ever done.”

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Why Dave Bautista Had to Turn It Down

For his part, Dave Bautista confirmed the story to Comic Book, explaining that a prior commitment to the Zack Snyder film Army of the Dead created a scheduling conflict he couldn’t get out of.

“I have to say, that one. I really wanted to do that part. He (Gunn) wrote that part for me, and it was meant for me, and it just became a scheduling thing where I just couldn’t do it, because I was doing Army of the Dead… And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out,” Bautista explained.

However, Bautista believes it was a “blessing in disguise” and was incredibly complimentary of John Cena’s performance.

“And I think it was great. It was a blessing in disguise that I didn’t do that, because I have to say, I have to be honest, there’s no way that I would have been able to do that role like John. He’s just perfect for it, you know, and I wouldn’t have done it justice, and it wouldn’t have been as successful,” Bautista said. “So, look, and I am, I’m saying that with a bit of envy, you know, I would love it,” Bautista said. “I just wouldn’t have been able to do the same thing that John does to bring to that character. It wouldn’t have been the same. It wouldn’t have been as good. I can honestly say it wouldn’t have been as good.”

You can see John Cena’s acclaimed performance for yourself by watching the entire first season of Peacemaker right now on HBO Max.

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