Spoilers for “Superman” to observe, so beware!
James Gunn’s new DC Universe has been a breath of recent air within the comedian e book film area, largely because of the breezy reception for “Superman” from each audiences and critics. Nonetheless, earlier than he reinvented the Man of Metal for the large display, Gunn determined to principally create the fandom round Peacemaker. John Cena starred in 2021’s “The Suicide Squad” as Christopher Smith, a “peace-loving” mercenary that was as humorous in that movie as he was totally impolite. Equally, his follow-up look in “Peacemaker” season 1 on HBO Max was warmly regarded by tons of individuals world wide. On the identical time, it created an issue for the DCU. Specifically, if we’re eliminating the DC Prolonged Universe’s Justice League (together with Jason Momoa’s Aquaman), then how on the earth can Peacemaker make the bounce to a brand new continuity that is so clearly totally different from the one earlier than?
Fortunately, the brand new “Peacemaker” season 2 trailer (see above) pulls the curtain again on how the DCU plans to combine Cena’s character into the brand new established order. It opens with Smith reflecting on the occasions of his earlier adventures, and the guilt of executing Rick Flagg (beforehand Joel Kinnaman) is clearly attending to him. As we noticed in “Superman,” Rick Flagg Sr. (Frank Grillo) continues to be offended about Peacemaker killing his son in chilly blood throughout their absurd mission to save lots of the planet. Issues get even weirder than traditional for Peacemaker when he begins exploring the common portals in his headquarters, “Quantum Unfolding Storage Areas,” as we noticed in season 1. Upon investigating, he discovers that in one other world, his alternate self is legendary, a profitable hero, and adored by the general public. After all, the attract of a world the place most of his issues are solved turns into too exhausting to go up — that means, his buddies must save Chris Smith from himself, actually.
These portals, nonetheless, are additionally the important thing to this complete season … and seem to elucidate how Cena’s Peacemaker was capable of pop up in David Corenswet’s first outing as Superman within the new DCU.
Peacemaker season 2 could clarify how season 1 will be canon to the DCU
Identical to DC’s comics have completed for many years by this level, there’s going to be some consolidation between the outdated DCEU continuity from “Peacemaker” season 1 and our new established order following “Superman.” Chris Smith is messing with issues past his management, just like Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor in Gunn’s DCU film, and it is in all probability going to end in Cena making himself at house on an entirely totally different Earth. Certainly, this kind of stuff occurs on a regular basis in comedian books and would provide a straightforward rationalization for what the DCEU’s Peacemaker was doing in “Superman” to start with.
Sure, Cena’s brief look in “Superman” provoked simply one of many greatest viewers reactions I’ve seen to a cameo in a film this summer season. Instantly after strolling out of the theater, I might see and listen to individuals questioning how Peacemaker was capable of make the bounce to a brand new Earth after crossing paths with the DCEU’s Justice League only a few years in the past. Fortunately, Gunn anticipated a few of these questions and was already plotting to depart some bread crumbs out for the followers who have been paying shut consideration throughout “Superman.” The DC Studios head not too long ago talked to Leisure Weekly about “Peacemaker” season 2, at which level he famous that pocket universes, just like the one Lex makes use of to try to detain Superman, will probably be a giant deal within the present’s subsequent installment:
“The entire [second] season of ‘Peacemaker’ revolves round that. Sure, completely it’s. You may see in ‘Peacemaker’ [season 2], too. It is simply Lex’s model is far jankier than the one in ‘Peacemaker.’ The one in ‘Peacemaker’ works higher. What the entire season of ‘Peacemaker’ revolves round is that.”
For followers who is likely to be slightly worn out on the multiverse speak, Gunn additionally teased that “Peacemaker” season 2 is kind of intimate narratively, particularly for a narrative that entails the existence of who is aware of what number of alternate universes. “Over the previous 4 or 5 years, [multiverses have] all of the sudden been in every single place,” the filmmaker mused. “I consider ‘Peacemaker‘ as extra of a high-concept story about one different world. It is extra akin to Philip Roth’s ‘The Counterlife’ than it’s to the third ‘Spider-Man’ film [‘No Way Home‘], which I really like that film, however it is not about that.”
Peacemaker season 2 appears to essentially shut the e book on the DCEU
DCEU followers have had a tough time letting go of Zack Snyder’s imaginative and prescient for these iconic characters, however in spite of everything the approval for “Superman,” it looks like there’s actually been a turning of the web page. “Peacemaker” selecting to pursue one other path ahead is one other indicator that issues have modified for DC Studios, and never in a malicious means. Gunn is a inventive filmmaker, which implies that he was at all times going to have a unique means of approaching favorites like Superman, Batman, and Marvel Lady when he received to be the one in cost. Happily, “Peacemaker” season 2 appears to be extra pensive about the complete apply than simply ditching DC’s earlier shared universe wholesale.
After all, this is not the one main change on the horizon for lingering DCEU followers, with Momoa slated to play Lobo reverse Milly Alcock’s Supergirl within the Woman of Metal’s solo film subsequent yr. To make sure, the DCEU’s Aquaman turning into an entirely totally different character within the DCU marks a transparent break from what got here earlier than and a transition into a brand new imaginative and prescient for the long run. And whereas I assume it is nonetheless believable we’ll see, say, Corenswet and Henry Cavill share the display as Superman variants in some unspecified time in the future (as a result of who might resist the moment cash of that crossover?), it is also doable “Peacemaker” season 2 will absolutely shut the e book on the DCEU. It’d even be the easiest way of gently turning the lights off now that the get together is over. “Superman” was simply step one into this courageous new world, which implies it is as much as Peacemaker to stroll into the sunshine of the long run himself.
“Peacemaker” season 2 premieres August 21, 2025, on HBO Max.
