James Gunn, creator of HBO Max’s Peacemaker, revealed in an Empire Magazine interview back in 2022 that John Cena’s idea of the titular character being bisexual was an organic and natural development during Cena’s improv of Christopher Smith (via SlashFilm). Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 1 is out on HBO Max, and it appears that we got the downlow on another major DC character’s sexuality – Adrian Chase, aka Vigilante.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in August 2025, Freddie Stroma, who plays Vigilante, opened up about the character being asexual. There were signs from the first season as well that alluded to this, with Stroma stating:
I can’t really remember, but there [is] a scene in Season 1 of Chris seeing [Adrian] in the shower and makes fun of his, like, small penis. There was some (response) line, I can’t remember what it was, but [Adrian] just sounded like someone who was completely unbothered — he just didn’t care. It was just like he doesn’t even really like sex. So, [it made sense] that he wants to do an orgy because he wants to bond with his friend, not for the sex.
Stroma was actually not Gunn’s first choice for the role of Vigilante, as the role originally went to the 1997 Mortal Kombat: Annihilation star, Chris Conrad. James Gunn decided not to go with Conrad as the two were not on the same page.
Vigilante is Peacemaker’s best friend and sidekick, always coming through for Smith when needed, and we’re glad Gunn cast Freddie Stroma.
Freddie Stroma on His Casting as Vigilante
Still from Peacemaker | Credit: HBO Max
Freddit Stroma as Vigilante is a very memorable character on the show, often delivering some of the most humorous exchanges with John Cena’s Peacemaker. Vigilante was recast five and a half episodes into the first season shoot of Peacemaker, leading to multiple reshoots and ADR work.
In the same interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stroma spoke more about his character in the DCU compared to the comics:
When I auditioned for it and booked it, I started reading up on the Vigilante comics. And then I got the script, and very, very quickly realized that they’re not the same character at all. [In the comics], he’s level headed. He’s a very standard guy. Literally, his name is Vigilante. He’s a [district attorney] and he fights crime. It’s a pretty straightforward character. And then the one in Peacemaker is just basically James’s creation. So it was that way on the page.
Vigilante is now part of the ragtag group of antiheroes and will feature prominently in Season 2 of Peacemaker.
The Many Roles of Freddie Stroma
Freddie Stroma pursued a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience while acting was still a dream. He auditioned in London and landed the Harry Potter gig, eventually having to take a break for a year before finishing his degree.
Stroma was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from the Online Film & Television Association in 2022. His filmography since playing the role of Cormac McLaggan in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has considerably grown, landing him on big TV shows like Bridgerton and Game of Thrones.
MOVIE/SHOWROLERELEASEHarry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceCormac McLaggen20094.3.2.1.Cool Brett2010Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1Cormac McLaggen2010Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2Cormac McLaggen2011A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a SongLuke Morgan2011Pitch PerfectLuke2012After the DarkJack2013ExtraterrestrialKyle2014The Inbetweeners 2Ben Thornton-Wild201413 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of BenghaziBrit Vayner2016Second ActRon Ebsen2018UnREALAdam Cromwell2015–2016Game of ThronesDickon Tarly2016Time After TimeH. G. Wells2017Grand HotelOliver2019BridgertonPrince Friedrich2020The CrewJake Martin2021PeacemakerAdrian Chase / Vigilante2022–present
Freddie Stroma plays the heck out of Adrian Chase, showcasing his range as not just an actor with depth but also great with action. Stroma has reprised his role as Vigilante for Season 2 of Peacemaker, which James Gunn said will be shaping the rest of the DCU.
What do you think of Freddie Stroma as Vigilante? Let us know in the comments.
Peacemaker is currently streaming on HBO Max in the U.S.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
