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Peacemaker Star's Decade-Long Friendship with James Gunn Leads to DC Studios Role
22 Aug
Summary
- Steve Agee's friendship with James Gunn began in 2008, years before Gunn's DC success
- Agee landed roles in Gunn's films and shows, including Peacemaker, after becoming part of Gunn's inner circle
- Agee was among the few who knew about Gunn's new role as DC Studios co-CEO before it was announced
In August 2025, Steve Agee, the actor behind the character John Economos in the Peacemaker series, reflects on his decade-long friendship with James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios. The two first met in 2008, long before Gunn's rise to prominence in the DC universe.
At the time, Gunn was co-hosting a reality show on VH1 called Scream Queens, and Agee's friend Shawnee Smith, who was a co-host, invited Agee to a Sunday dinner party at Gunn's brother's house. Agee immediately hit it off with Gunn and the rest of the group, which included actors like Michael Rooker and Nathan Fillion. Gunn invited Agee to join their weekly Sunday night gatherings, and Agee became a regular part of Gunn's inner circle.
Over the next few years, Agee appeared in several of Gunn's projects, including the 2010 film Super, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and The Suicide Squad. When Gunn created the Peacemaker spinoff series for HBO Max, he offered Agee a more substantial role as the ARGUS techie John Economos, a character Agee had briefly portrayed in The Suicide Squad.
Agee's involvement with Peacemaker came at a crucial time in his life, as he had been dealing with the loss of his mother and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The opportunity to work on the show provided a much-needed silver lining during a difficult period.
More recently, Agee was among the select few who knew about Gunn's new role as co-CEO of DC Studios before it was officially announced in October 2022. Agee strongly encouraged his friend to accept the position, recognizing that it was a perfect fit for Gunn's deep knowledge and passion for the DC universe.
As Peacemaker season two premieres, Agee's character Economos finds himself torn between his loyalty to the 11th Street Kids and his obligations to the ARGUS organization. The season promises to explore the central question of whether the grass is truly greener on the other side, a theme that Agee says will be tested in the final three episodes, which he describes as "almost like a whole new season."
