“I wanted to make sure she was okay…” - James Gunn talks about making sure Danielle Brooks was comfortable doing Peacemaker Season 2

Peacemaker showrunner James Gunn has always prioritized keeping his sets safe and friendly, and Season 2 proves it once more. Danielle Brooks, who portrays Leota Adebayo, had some heavy emotional and physically demanding scenes that required her to be vulnerable and strong.

Gunn ensured she felt at ease on set, often checking in with her and keeping the lines of communication open. By establishing a safe and trusting space, he enabled Brooks to completely move into her character without restraint.

This is indicative not just of Gunn's empathy as a leader but of a broader shift in television production in which guest stars and ensuring they feel safe are central to creating fantastic shows.

“I wanted to make sure she was okay…” - James Gunn talks about making sure Danielle Brooks was comfortable doing Peacemaker Season 2

Prioritising Actor Comfort

Since Season 2 began, James Gunn ensured Danielle Brooks was comfortable. He spoke with her before and after intense scenes to check whether she was emotionally prepared, saying,

"I wanted to make sure she was okay."

Brooks was glad of the support, stating that knowing Gunn cared gave her the confidence to act in tough scenes. Spending time checking on actors like this doesn't happen often on large productions, and it illustrates how much Gunn values his cast. By taking care of Brooks' emotional and mental health, he was able to help her deliver her best performance and also establish a set where trust and camaraderie could exist.

Building Trust on Set

Gunn's work of making Brooks feel secure created a great deal of trust on the set of Peacemaker. When actors feel they can voice concerns or set boundaries, they're able to take more creative risks, and their performances thereby feel more authentic.

Brooks was able to completely perform as Leota, displaying her strength, humor, and vulnerability because she felt secure. This trust also made the cast perform more effectively as a unit, with interactions feeling more real and natural.

Encouraging this type of positive environment is becoming more prevalent in television production, demonstrating that when directors take a vested interest in actors' lives, it results in greater storytelling and more emotionally powerful performances.

James Gunn's commitment to Danielle Brooks' comfort during Peacemaker Season 2 shows how important actor-centered production practices are to contemporary television. By stopping by often, hearing her out, and maintaining open lines of communication, Gunn made Brooks feel emotionally supported so she could give her best performance.

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This strategy paid off with the season's success, showing the value of empathy and trust in creative space. While waiting for the Peacemaker series finale, viewers can enjoy the considerate leadership off-camera that makes actors like Leota stand out.

Gunn's approach provides a benchmark for upcoming productions in demonstrating how prioritizing actors' welfare contributes to better storytelling, performance, and audience reception.

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