Summary
- New opening dance routine in
Peacemaker
Season 2 crafted by Alan Tudyk and his wife promises fresh energy. - Alan Tudyk’s role as John Cena’s stand-in during dance pre-visualization showcases his versatile talent.
- Tudyk’s unlikely involvement in the development of
Peacemaker
‘s viral dance highlights his commitment.
Peacemaker Season 2 viewers will be in for a delight with the introduction of a new opening dance number. The first season of the James Gunn-created series, a spin-off of Suicide Squad, kicked off each episode with a now-viral dance routine set to Wig Wam’s Do You Wanna Taste It, famously performed by a stoic John Cena and his co-stars.
The dance, an unexpected hit, set social media on fire as fans and celebrities took to platforms to post their renditions. The excitement reached a peak when Norway’s entertainment stars showcased the dance at a major awards show. But the man behind the moves in the pre-visualization phase was none other than Alan Tudyk. Known primarily for his role in Resident Alien, Tudyk was instrumental in crafting the original dance, thanks to his unique position in the development process.
During a recent panel at Fan Expo Boston, moderated by Collider, Tudyk shared insights into his role in shaping the dance that would eventually define the series. His wife, Charissa Barton, who choreographed the sequence, initially used Tudyk as a stand-in for Cena during the early stages. The actor opened:
“Just recently, my wife, Charissa Barton, she didn’t take my last name, it’s cool guys, it is not a hangup for me. She choreographed the dance for Peacemaker in the opening of Peacemaker, right?”
Tudyk revealed when asked about the upcoming season’s dance sequence. He teased that the new routine would bring a fresh energy to the show’s opening moments, although specifics remained under wraps. The design philosophy behind these sequences, as Tudyk explained:
“I was along for the ride in the creation of the first one because for Charissa, her pitch to James, who didn’t know it was me when she was pitching it, she said my husband’s an actor, and I’ll teach him the dance and if he can— because she has to teach the actors, so it has to be at a level actors can dance. So she said my husband’s an actor and if he can do it, anybody can do it. So I served as a low bar that John Cena had to step over.”
Barton and Tudyk took a pragmatic approach as it was essential that any dance choreographed could be performed by actors who might not necessarily be trained dancers.
Tudyk’s Unlikely Role in the Making of Peacemaker’s Dance Routine
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tudyk stepped in to assist his wife, choreographer Charissa Barton, by acting as a stand-in for lead actor John Cena in pre-visualization videos sent to director James Gunn.
Related
DC’s Peacemaker: What We Hope to See in Season 2
Peacemaker’s second season has been officially confirmed by James Gunn. What can viewers expect from the upcoming season?
Tudyk’s involvement provided a unique insight into the dance’s development, as he was featured in these early videos despite his self-professed lack of dance ability. Surrounded by professional dancers, he humorously noted his stark contrast to the experienced group, which included a team nicknamed the skeleton crew.
“I’m terrible at dancing, and she had real dancers, they’re called the skeleton crew, that come in and that she choreographed the dance on. And so, I was John Cena, and it was like all these like 20-something dancers and me. It was ridiculous.”
Although primarily recognized for roles in Resident Alien, Firefly, and various prominent voice parts, Tudyk’s contribution to Peacemaker illustrates his versatility and commitment. Despite the performance anxiety he described among seasoned dancers, his participation helped fine-tune the choreography that would eventually entertain viewers.
