Peacemaker Season 2 star Frank Grillo reveals that he did not know who John Cena was prior to filming

Along with possibly being the toughest new face in Peacemaker Season 2, Frank Grillo had the funniest scene off camera: admitting that he literally had no idea who John Cena was prior to working with him. During a GQ interview, Grillo remarked that he had not seen Peacemaker Season 1, and he had to consult his son about the masked protagonist of the show. And when he finally met Cena on set, the two got along immediately.

This has gone viral, and fans appreciated Grillo’s honesty. It is relatable as we have all experienced it one time or the other, like when we miss out on some massive pop-culture reference and feel embarrassed for not being able to catch up. What is even more exciting is how the story concludes: Grillo, who was once asking, “Who’s that guy?” went on to have genuine admiration for the talent that Cena displayed.

Frank Grillo’s confession about John Cena

Grillo, who is playing Rick Flag Sr. in the second season of Peacemaker, was candid about his ignorance, and his refreshingly straightforward confession worked quite well because it cut through the general celebrity hype. He did not appear to be a big WWE fan or someone who watched every episode of Peacemaker Season 1, but he came in as a performer interested in the story instead of the fame.

“But I had never seen Peacemaker. I didn't know who the fuck John Cena was. I asked my son, “Is John Cena a big wrestler?” He goes, “You're stupid.””

Grillo's opinion of Cena after Peacemaker Season 2

The turnaround was once the cameras started rolling. Grillo says that he was surprised to see how powerful, fleshed out, and emotive Cena’s performance was in Peacemaker Season 2, proving that jokes and biceps are not his only forte. At the red carpet of Peacemaker Season 2's premiere, Frank Grillo told People:

“[I’ve] got to tell you, he surprised me the most because he’s an amazing actor....What he does on this show, with this season specifically, he’s got some heavy weights to lift.”

Playing opposite Cena in Peacemaker, Grillo also told GQ, that Cena's strength can be “scary,” enough to drive aliens off the earth, and that the big guy has some serious muscles to show off.

“He's one of those bulls that you see out in the meadow where it's just muscle, on top of muscle, on top of muscle…Like, if aliens came down and Cena was the guy they saw, they'd go back to space and say, “Forget it, we're gonna lose”….I watched Cena doing his thing in the WWE and these guys are defying gravity, at 280 pounds. And so he's a scary man.”

How is Grillo-Cena's dynamic more exciting for Peacemaker Season 2?

Grillo is not some random new villain in the DCU. He goes from the set of Creature Commandos to do live action as Rick Flag Sr. in Peacemaker Season 2. His confrontation with Peacemaker fulfills two purposes: narratively, it is an extension of the emotional fallout from The Suicide Squad going, and also provides a demonstration of what the DCU wants to be: fun, bold, character-driven adventures.

Even more interesting is the candid admission of Grillo that he did not know Cena or Peacemaker before joining the team. It is that freshness that introduces a new layer to their arc. With Gunn’s solid casting, Grillo emanating a tough presence, and Cena bringing up a step in his acting, Season 2 surely has something more than just bigger action scenes to offer.

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