DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn and members of the *Peacemaker* Season 2 cast and crew discovered the surprise return of the HBO Max brand in real-time while filming promotional content — and their reactions are as priceless as they are genuine.
The news broke earlier today that Warner Bros. Discovery will be rebranding its streaming service back to HBO Max from its current one-word title, Max. The change is set to roll out this summer, adding another twist to an already confusing history of streaming rebrands. And it turns out, even some of the top executives at DC were caught off guard by the announcement.
The official X account for Max shared behind-the-scenes footage of James Gunn and *Peacemaker* star John Cena recording promotional messages encouraging fans to watch the show’s second season premiere on August 21. As Gunn reads from the teleprompter, he suddenly stumbles upon the mention of “HBO Max” instead of what he expected to see — “Max.”
That's good actually. pic.twitter.com/b3WNWOsyT2
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
Gunn reacts with visible surprise: “God, we’re calling it HBO Max – what? We’re calling it HBO Max again?” He then appears to warm up to the idea, saying, “That’s good, actually, but I didn’t know that was happening.”
Other voices can be heard in the background, including DC Studios Co-CEO Peter Safran, who also seems momentarily confused by the name shift. It’s a candid moment filled with confusion and laughter — and possibly one of the more human glimpses into how internal communications flow (or don’t flow) during major corporate decisions.
John Cena, however, was clearly in the know. His version of the promo features him delivering the news directly to the camera crew, essentially breaking the rebrand update to his colleagues on set. It’s a clever twist and makes for great viral content.
POV: finding out about the rebrand from @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/eyQxhTcJrs
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
Whether this was a carefully orchestrated marketing move or a genuine reaction caught on camera, the result is pure entertainment. Watching key figures like Gunn and Safran process the sudden branding shift in real time offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the world of studio politics and public-facing promotions.
The original HBO Max launched in 2020 as a comprehensive streaming platform featuring a wide array of content. In 2023, following the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, the streamer was rebranded simply as Max. Now, after just two years under the new moniker, the company has decided to bring back the full HBO Max name — perhaps realizing that the HBO brand still holds significant recognition and value among audiences.
No exact date has been given for when the updated branding will officially roll out across platforms. Until then, fans can look forward to the release of *Peacemaker* Season 2 on August 21, and stay tuned for more updates on upcoming DC projects scheduled for 2025. You can also catch our detailed breakdown of the latest *Peacemaker* Season 2 trailer for more insights.
