James Gunn Reveals the DC Character He Connects With Most (It’s Not Superman)

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Prior to leading the DC Universe, James Gunn gained recognition for turning the Guardians of the Galaxy into an unexpected box office success and adding depth to a lesser-known band of characters on screen. Since then, Gunn has often expressed that Rocket, played by Bradley Cooper, holds a special place in his heart as the emotional core of the Guardians trilogy. Now, in addition to his roles as writer and director, Gunn is also involved with character development as a producer and executive in the DCU. At a recent press event for Peacemaker Season 2, ComicBook asked Gunn if there was a single DC character he could identify with similarly to Rocket. Although he offered several responses, it seemed that Chris Smith, better known as Peacemaker (John Cena), was the character he related to the most.

Gunn shared that he has a strong connection with both Peacemaker and Harcourt in certain aspects. He isn’t as similar to Superman, but his relationship with Rocket was autobiographical, yet the storyline for Peacemaker feels more personal, and there are parts of Chris’s character that resonate deeply with him, acknowledging both the positive and negative sides of the character.

It’s not surprising that Peacemaker holds a personal touch for Gunn, much like Rocket, considering their shared history. After a controversial termination by Marvel due to backlash from some vocal, disingenuous critics, Gunn wrote, directed The Suicide Squad for the DCEU. Following this, he was commissioned to develop Peacemaker as a spinoff series and rehired at Marvel to conclude his Guardians trilogy. Amidst all these developments, Gunn also landed the role of co-CEO at DC Studios, where he has the liberty to shape the direction of the DC Universe ahead.

Peacemaker is the sole DCEU title that has been transitioned into the DCU thus far, and James Gunn handled this challenging new assignment admirably without letting it interfere with wrapping up his Guardians trilogy effectively, particularly emphasizing Rocket. In a recent interview with GQ, he shared how Rocket helped him tap into the emotional core of the entire team.

Suddenly, it struck me that if the raccoon was genuine, he would be the most melancholic creature in existence, feeling utterly isolated and struggling greatly throughout his life. This thought marked the start of the Guardians series for me. Rocket’s character, whom I feel more connected to than any other character I’ve portrayed on screen, has been a profound journey for me.

Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback for shows like Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, and Superman, Gunn has certainly brought a thoughtful and emotional touch to the DC Universe so far. We can only hope that this trend continues when Peacemaker Season 2 debuts on HBO Max on Thursday, August 21st.

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2025-08-14 01:13