HBO Max Rebrand Shocks Gunn, Cena

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn and the Peacemaker production team seemed to discover Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to revert to the HBO Max branding while filming Season 2 promos – and their genuine reactions are absolutely priceless.

The entertainment world buzzed with confusion when Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to abandon the Max rebrand earlier today. This summer, streaming platforms will switch back to the original HBO Max branding, leaving even DC's top executives momentarily perplexed by the sudden reversal.

The soon-to-be-renamed Max service's official X account captured spontaneous reactions from Gunn and Peacemaker lead John Cena immediately following today's announcement. The footage shows them mid-promo shoot for Peacemaker Season 2's August 21 premiere when they encountered the script's unexpected branding change.

Viewers get a real-time glimpse of Gunn's bewilderment as he processes the script's shift from "Max" back to "HBO Max." After confirming it wasn't an error but part of an upcoming Upfront announcement, Gunn humorously double-checks: "Wait, we're calling it HBO Max again?"

That's good actually. pic.twitter.com/b3WNWOsyT2

— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025

The amusing behind-the-scenes moment features DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran and other crew members joining in the spontaneous discussion. While clearly surprised, Gunn ultimately approves of the reversal, joking, "That's actually good – I just didn't know it was happening."

Cena's reaction provides perfect comedic contrast – rather than being surprised himself, the footage shows him informing the crew about the rebrand, playing the unexpected messenger with his signature charm.

Whether a clever marketing stunt or genuine surprise, the spontaneous reactions from DC's creative leaders to the streaming platform's latest identity shift make for must-see entertainment.

POV: finding out about the rebrand from @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/eyQxhTcJrs

— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025

HBO Max first debuted in 2020 as WarnerMedia's flagship streaming destination before undergoing its controversial 2023 rebrand to "Max" following the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Now, just two years after asking subscribers to adjust to the simplified name, the company has executed a full-circle moment by reviving the original branding.

While an exact relaunch date remains unconfirmed, fans can explore 2025's upcoming DC slate and analyze the latest Peacemaker Season 2 trailer details as they await both the rebrand and the series premiere.