Batista Explains Why Rejecting Peacemaker Was “Blessing In Disguise”
Did you know that Batista rejected playing Peacemaker?
John Cena plays the Peacemaker character in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and the DC Universe (DCU). Peacemaker first debuted in the 2021 film The Suicide Squad, marking Cena’s introduction as the gun-toting antihero Christopher Smith, who is a vigilante obsessed with achieving peace at any cost, even if it requires violence. Following the film, Peacemaker starred in his own television series called Peacemaker, which premiered on HBO Max on January 13, 2022.
Speaking on The Howard Stern Show, James Gunn revealed that he originally wanted to cast Batista to play Peacemaker. However, The Animal refused the role because of his conflicting movie schedules and better pay. As a result, John Cena landed the role and did a marvelous job portraying the character.
“I wrote the character of Peacemaker for him, and we offered him the role, but [he] was offered two movies, and we weren’t paying him a lot, so he had to go where the money was.”
Batista confirmed in a recent interview with Comic Book that he did want to play the character but couldn’t because he was filming for his Army of the Dead movie.
“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.”
Batista Says John Cena Is Perfect for the Peacemaker Character
Speaking to Comic Book, Batista added that he’s glad he didn’t play the role because John Cena has done justice to the Peacemaker character.
“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.”
“So, look, and I am, I’m saying that with a bit of envy, you know, I would love it. 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.”
H/T ComicBook