James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is slated to release on 6 August 2021, but it’s already getting a prequel TV series spinoff.

John Cena will reprise his role of Peacemaker from The Suicide Squad for Peacemaker; an action-adventure-comedy series for HBO Max.

The streaming service has ordered an eight-episode first season, with Gunn writing all eight episodes and directing several of them, including the pilot.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the HBO Max Peacemaker series will explore the origins of the character.

Gunn and Peter Safran (a producer on The Conjuring franchise and 2018’s Aquaman) will serve as executive producers, along with Cena himself. They are currently planning for Peacemaker to go into production sometime in early 2021.

Peacemaker first appeared in a 1966 comic published by Charlton Comics, which was later acquired by DC Comics. His real name is Christopher Smith, who is a man who “believes in peace at any cost – no matter how many people he has to kill to get it”.

He’s sort of like a more bizarre and outlandish version of Marvel’s Punisher.

In a statement, Gunn said:

“Peacemaker is an opportunity to delve into current world issues through the lens of this superhero/supervillain/and world’s biggest douchebag.

I’m excited to expand The Suicide Squad and bring this character from the DC film universe to the full breadth of a series.

And of course, to be able to work again with John, Peter, and my friends at Warner Bros. is the icing on the cake.”

No release date has been announced for HBO Max’s Peacemaker. In the meantime, check out the goofy key art for the upcoming TV series below, which should give you an idea of what tone and vibe to expect.