Summer 2025 promises an exhilarating season for DC enthusiasts. Following the cinematic release of Superman, which marks the live-action debut of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU, fans are eagerly anticipating the return of Peacemaker for its second season. John Cena reprises his role as the peace-loving yet gun-toting Christopher Smith, with many of the original cast members returning to enhance the series' dynamic.
The first trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 provides a glimpse into the upcoming plot and its connections to both Season 1 and Gunn's The Suicide Squad. Key points include new revelations about the DCU timeline, Rick Flagg's role as a "villain," and the notable absence of Vigilante. Let's delve into the major takeaways from the trailer.
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Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante in Peacemaker Season 2
While it would be unfair to label John Cena's Christopher Smith as the least interesting character in Peacemaker, he is undoubtedly a complex figure. A walking paradox, Smith advocates for peace while engaging in violent conflicts, embodying the quirky humor and underlying goodness typical of Gunn's characters.
Despite the series being centered around Peacemaker, it thrives as an ensemble piece, much like The CW's The Flash, where the strength of the supporting cast is crucial. Among these, Freddie Stroma's portrayal of Vigilante stands out. Vigilante became a fan favorite in Season 1, offering a humorous counterpoint to Peacemaker with his endearing yet pathetic demeanor. Though the series deviates from the comic version, Stroma's performance is captivating enough to overshadow any discrepancies.
It's somewhat disappointing to see less of Vigilante in the trailer. While John Cena naturally takes center stage, and Jennifer Holland's Emilia Harcourt grapples with her anger, Vigilante's role seems diminished. The trailer shows him working at a fast food restaurant, grappling with the realization that heroism doesn't always bring fame. Hopefully, this doesn't reflect his overall presence in the season.
Meeting the DCU Justice League ------------------------------The trailer kicks off with a surprising scene: Peacemaker at an open interview with the Justice League. Characters like Sean Gunn's Maxwell Lord, Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl make appearances, clearly unimpressed by Peacemaker's presence.
This segment offers a deeper look into the Justice League's dynamics compared to what was shown in the Superman trailer. This new Justice League is far from the more serious version seen in Season 1, embracing a more irreverent and humorous tone that aligns better with Peacemaker's vibe.
Gunn draws inspiration from DC's Justice League International comics, emphasizing a team of quirky misfits rather than the usual superhero heavyweights. This approach highlights the importance of the Justice League's legitimacy for these characters. Filming this scene during Superman's production allowed Gunn to feature these actors together. While the Justice League may not play a significant role beyond Peacemaker's failed tryout, it's refreshing to see their interactions and the humor Isabela Merced brings to Hawkgirl.
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The Return of Frank Grillo’s Rick Flagg, Sr.
Frank Grillo's Rick Flagg, Sr. is proving to be a pivotal figure in the DCU, having appeared in the Creature Commandos series and set to debut in live-action in Superman. Now, he's poised to be the central antagonist in Peacemaker Season 2.
Labeling Flagg as a "villain" might be too simplistic, considering his motivations stem from mourning his son's death and his new position as head of ARGUS, giving him both legal and moral authority in his conflict with Peacemaker. This setup promises an intriguing clash, as Peacemaker grapples with his past actions in The Suicide Squad and his quest for redemption. The audience will be drawn into the tension, wondering whether they'll root for Flagg's quest for vengeance against Team Peacemaker.
Making Sense of the DCU Timeline
Peacemaker Season 2 directly builds upon The Suicide Squad, showing that while the DCU aims for a fresh start, some elements from the previous DCEU are retained. The Suicide Squad now serves as the unofficial first DCU movie, given its frequent references in the new universe.
The timeline is becoming clearer: The Suicide Squad in 2021, Peacemaker Season 1 in 2022, Creature Commandos in 2024, Superman in July 2025, and Peacemaker Season 2 in August 2025. After that, the DCU will expand further with shows like Lanterns and movies like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
Gunn values the continuity he established in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1, despite Warner Bros.' efforts to separate the old and new universes. As Gunn mentioned in a recent interview with IGN, canon is secondary to storytelling. He emphasized the authenticity and care invested in these narratives, acknowledging their fictional nature.
“Hopefully there's authenticity and truth to those stories because we care about those stories, the characters, the actors, the performers, the animators,” said Gunn. “They all care about these stories, but it's not real.”
Gunn also admitted that the DCEU Justice League's appearance in Peacemaker Season 1 complicates matters. He teased that Season 2 will address this continuity issue, possibly through a scene where Peacemaker enters his father's dimension and meets another version of himself. With the multiverse at play, any narrative twist is feasible.Despite the Justice League cameo, Gunn can easily detach The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1 from the old DCEU and integrate them into the DCU. The standalone nature of The Suicide Squad, with minimal ties to the larger DCEU, allows Gunn to retain key actors like Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, John Cena as Peacemaker, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. There's no need to recast beloved characters like Harley Quinn, though the same might not apply to the Joker.
By the conclusion of Peacemaker Season 2, the DCU's canon should be more defined. Fans eagerly await its return, hoping for a more prominent role for Vigilante.
