The world of streaming services took an unexpected turn when HBO's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, announced it would revert its streaming service's name back to HBO Max from Max. This surprising decision, set to take effect this summer, has left even the biggest names at DC Studios scratching their heads. The revelation came to light while filming promotional material for Season 2 of the hit series Peacemaker, and the reactions from the cast and crew are nothing short of priceless.
DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn and Peacemaker star John Cena were caught on camera as they learned about the name change. In a video shared by the soon-to-be-renamed Max's official X account, Gunn is seen reading from a teleprompter, promoting Peacemaker Season 2, set to debut on August 21. His confusion is palpable when he reads "HBO Max" instead of "Max," and he's quickly informed that this is not a mistake but a forthcoming announcement at the Upfront.
That's good actually. pic.twitter.com/b3WNWOsyT2
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
"God, we’re calling it HBO Max – what?" Gunn quips. "We’re calling it HBO Max again?" The confusion spreads to other crew members, including DC Studios Co-CEO Peter Safran, turning the moment into a hilarious spectacle. Gunn, however, expresses his approval: "That’s good, actually, but I didn’t know that was happening."
John Cena, on the other hand, seems to be in the know. Rather than being surprised, he's seen in another video breaking the news to some of the crew behind the camera, adding another layer of humor to the situation.
POV: finding out about the rebrand from @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/eyQxhTcJrs
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025
While some speculate this could be an elaborate publicity stunt by the HBO Max team, the genuine reactions from Gunn, Cena, and the crew make for a highly entertaining moment. HBO Max originally launched in 2020, becoming a go-to streaming hub until Warner Bros. Discovery announced in 2023 that it would rebrand to simply Max. Now, after two years of adjusting to the new name, the company has decided that HBO Max is, indeed, a great name after all.
No specific date has been set for the rebrand, leaving fans eagerly awaiting further updates on both HBO Max and Peacemaker Season 2. In the meantime, you can explore the most anticipated DC projects set to release in 2025 and delve into our analysis of the latest trailer for Peacemaker Season 2.
