jennifer holland peacemaker

TV’s Harcourt Reveals Peacemaker Creator James Gunn’s Secrets

Jennifer Holland, who plays Harcourt on Peacemaker, recently appeared on SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show where she discussed the secrets of James Gunn‘s creative process. Is she allowed to? Guess so. After all it’s not like she can go home and hide it from him.

Because I did not know this until I was asked to write this post, but…Holland and Gunn are MARRIED. If she ever kisses John Cena in the series, that will be under the direction of her husband. So if you ever wondered where some of the weirder ideas that wind up in Peacemaker (or anything else Gunn has done) come from, Mrs. Gunn offers a hint: he is very into crows. And fish.

Julia Cunningham: I was watching all the clips ’cause you guys host, you know, sort of like a podcast and have like video version of it after every episode and there was a moment where they’re talking about again the bird blindness and oh my god. Who was it that’s obsessed with it? I’m trying to remember now. Oh, vigilante. Vigilante is like obsessed with crows and James Gunn starts talking about crows and you’re like, “Oh god, crows again.” I can tell, it just must be so funny in your household hearing him obsess about something like crows and then it ending up in a script. Is that how most things happen?

Jennifer Holland: Yes. Yeah, yeah. He’s very, especially with the “Peacemaker.” It’s like he writes them so quickly and he’s so free when he does it. He doesn’t feel sort of encumbered by the constraints that you have when you’re writing, you know, a two hour and 15 minute whatever film. He can be more free, and so there’s a lot more of his personality.

Julia Cunningham: That’s what I thought. The way you reacted to him talking about the crows again, I could tell, I was like, “He talks about crows all the time at home. I can see it on Jennifers face.”

Jennifer Holland: He does. He does. There are little pieces of James in every character, you know, he feels very close to Harcourt for a lot of reasons, but he also, there’s so much of his sort of spectrum brain in Vigilante. James gets, right now, it’s fish tins, okay? So, he is just obsessed with tins of fish. Different types of tins of fish. Different aged fish, and so our house smells like fish right now. He’s very into the fish.

Julia Cunningham: That’s coming season three. That’s Vigilante.

Jennifer Holland: Vigilante is gonna be into some tins of fish.

Julia Cunningham: You heard it here first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-5zcq9Ua4c&feature=youtu.be

Some creative types get inspired for ideas from the shows they watch. It turns out Gunn watches a lot of..well, I find it hard to believe myself:

Jennifer Holland: James is really into “Love Island.” Do you know this about him? He’s a huge “Love Island” fan. He’s watched all of the different, you know, countries.

Julia Cunningham: Oh yeah. Like the UK and Australia. Wow. That’s incredible. Also, shout out to them for their editing, that they turn those episodes around within a day.

Jennifer Holland: Yeah. I don’t know how they do it.

SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show is a live, one-hour pop culture and entertainment show airing weekdays at 3pm ET/12pm PT from the SiriusXM LA Studios on Radio Andy (Ch. 102), and anytime on the SiriusXM app.

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Avatar of Sailor Krypton
Sailor Krypton

3... 2... 1... Krypton

32 messages 0 likes

I find it really interesting how personal James Gunn’s life seems to blend into his work. The fact that crows and fish, which are very specific and unusual obsessions, end up influencing characters like Vigilante and Harcourt shows how a creator’s quirks can shape the story. It makes me want to pay closer attention to small details in shows, because you never know which of the writer’s personal interests might appear on screen. I also didn’t know Jennifer Holland and James Gunn were married. That adds another layer, especially when you think about her acting in scenes directed by her husband. It must be both comforting and challenging at the same time.

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Avatar of Death Dance
Death Dance

New Member

18 messages 0 likes

I love hearing about how free James Gunn feels when writing Peacemaker compared to full-length films. It explains why the show has such a unique voice and energy. Often, long movies have restrictions and pressure, so the writing can feel constrained. The idea that Gunn’s personality is infused into every character makes the show feel more authentic and dynamic. Knowing that he’s currently obsessed with tins of fish makes me curious about season three. I will definitely pay attention to any little fish references now. It’s funny but also fascinating how real-life habits of creators shape fictional worlds.

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Avatar of Vic
Vic

KISS OF DEATH

276 messages 20 likes

I never would have guessed that someone like James Gunn is a fan of “Love Island.” It’s a surprising source of inspiration, but I can see how reality shows with fast storytelling and unique editing could influence his creative process. I also appreciate how Jennifer Holland gave a peek into their household life. It humanizes these larger-than-life creators and makes their work feel more connected to real experiences. It makes me think about how ordinary daily obsessions can become extraordinary storytelling tools. This shows that creative inspiration can come from anywhere, even something as simple as watching a TV show.

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Avatar of BeKindRewind
BeKindRewind

Active Member

479 messages 53 likes

The detail about crows appearing in scripts because of Gunn’s obsession really caught my attention. I enjoy noticing recurring motifs in shows, but knowing they come from a creator’s personal fascination adds a new level of understanding. It makes me want to rewatch episodes and see how many subtle references there are. Also, the part about Vigilante and fish tins is amusing and slightly absurd, but it works perfectly in the quirky tone of Peacemaker. It shows how letting creators express their eccentricities can result in memorable storytelling. This is a reminder that small personal quirks often enhance creative work.

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Avatar of Mokona1998
Mokona1998

Hardcore CLAMP fan

89 messages 5 likes

I think it’s refreshing to hear Jennifer Holland speak so openly about James Gunn’s creative habits. Many times, we only see the polished product, but behind the scenes, the process is messy, personal, and full of unique obsessions. I can imagine a household filled with discussions about crows, fish, and reality TV—it must be lively and sometimes chaotic. I admire that Gunn can take these personal interests and make them central to character development and story arcs. It also makes me wonder about other creators and what small, unusual things influence their work in ways viewers might never notice.

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Avatar of Law_of_Wicky
Law_of_Wicky

New days fly away across D universe See you there

473 messages 10 likes

I am really fascinated by how James Gunn incorporates his personality into multiple characters. The idea that Vigilante and Harcourt carry pieces of him in different ways is intriguing. It makes me reflect on how writers and directors often leave parts of themselves in their work. I also like Jennifer Holland’s humor when talking about these obsessions. The fish tins and crows feel so specific that they stand out in memory, which probably makes the show more memorable. It reminds me that attention to small personal details can make fictional worlds richer and more relatable, even when they are strange or unusual.

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Avatar of eugene22
eugene22

Member

466 messages 5 likes

I appreciate the insight into James Gunn’s writing pace. Writing quickly and freely seems to allow more spontaneity and creativity, which is evident in Peacemaker. I enjoy watching shows where you can sense the creator’s personality throughout. It makes the story feel personal and distinctive. Also, the combination of ordinary interests like reality TV and unusual ones like fish tins shows a balance between everyday life and eccentric creativity. This perspective makes me more interested in watching season three to catch the nuances that reflect these obsessions. It adds an extra layer of engagement for viewers who pay attention.

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Avatar of frequencydrive
frequencydrive

Member

457 messages 28 likes

The marriage between Jennifer Holland and James Gunn adds a unique dynamic to their work on Peacemaker. Acting in scenes directed by your spouse must be an unusual experience, balancing personal and professional life. It also gives insight into how collaboration between life partners can influence creative decisions. I enjoy knowing that the characters reflect pieces of Gunn’s personality and interests. This makes the storytelling feel more authentic and layered. Understanding these behind-the-scenes details encourages me to look for subtle patterns and inspirations in the show that I might have otherwise overlooked.

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Avatar of Ampersand&
Ampersand&

Member

467 messages 42 likes

I find it amusing and interesting how specific obsessions, like crows and tins of fish, make their way into the show. This level of detail shows how personal quirks can become integral to storytelling. I also like knowing that James Gunn watches reality TV and uses it as part of his creative process. It demonstrates that inspiration doesn’t always come from complex or profound sources—sometimes it’s ordinary life and entertainment. The mix of ordinary and unusual influences creates a balance in Peacemaker that keeps it engaging. It encourages me to pay closer attention to what creators might be subtly including from their personal lives.

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