James Gunn’s DCU Continues After ‘Superman’ With ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2

DC fans are currently experiencing a drought, especially after the epic meteor strike that was James Gunn’s Superman (2025), which flew into theaters on July 11. The good news is that the drought will be over when the next DC project arrives later this month. Superman set the stage for the revamped DCU, and HBO Max’s original series Peacemaker will be taking over on Aug. 21 with Season 2.

John Cena returns as the titular anti-hero, Christopher Smith, also known by the moniker Peacemaker. The second season will bridge the gap between the original vision of the DCEU and Gunn’s reimagined and newly established DCU. Fans can anticipate Smith dealing with the aftermath of Season 1, as well as his attempt to join the ranks of the Justice Gang, which was introduced in Superman.

The titular anti-hero will undergo an emotional and traumatic journey to discover what it means to be a hero and how he fits into that role. The official premise of Peacemaker Season 2 reads as follows:

In season 2, Peacemaker discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be. But this discovery also forces him to face his traumatic past and take the future into his own hands.

The series is delving deeper into the multiverse, which means fans can expect to be introduced to new characters and future projects that will continue to build the revised DCU. Aside from Cena, other returning cast members include Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Vigilante, Steve Agee as John Economos, Jennifer Holland as Agent Emilia Harcourt, and Chukwudi Iwuji as Clemson Murn. New additions to the cast list include Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Sol Rodriguez as Sasha Bordeaux, and Tim Meadows as Langston Fleury.

Where Will Audiences Find Peacemaker in Season 2?

While Superman (2025) inaugurated the DCU under James Gunn’s leadership, the director confirmed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that Peacemaker Season 2 is equally important as the film in building the foundation of the narrative. Based on the trailer for Season 2, viewers will see the morally complex Christopher Smith (Cena), a.k.a. Peacemaker, traveling through at least two universes. This is Gunn’s creative way to bridge the canon gap between the DCEU and the new DCU, while Smith comes to terms with his past and decides his own future as a hero. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn said the following about connecting the old DCEU and the new DCU through Peacemaker:

People are realizing that Peacemaker Season Two is about two dimensions, and that’s really the core of the show. But it’s not as if one of these is old DCEU and one’s DCU. That’s dealt with in a different way, very upfront in a season where most everything in Season One is canon and some things are not.

Although Gunn’s hints are slightly elusive, there’s a new character that caught fans’ attention, especially with his connection to the DCEU. Rick Flag Sr. (Grillo) is gearing up to be the big bad against Peacemaker as he’s intent on seeking revenge for the death of his son, Rick Flag Jr. There’s a rumor circulating online that Joel Kinnaman will reprise his role as Rick Flag Jr., a role he assumed in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad (2016) and in Gunn’s The Suicide Squad (2021). Still, the extent of any potential appearance remains to be seen when Season 2 hits the streaming platform. This has fans excited about other potential cameos.

What Other DCU Projects Can We Expect To Follow ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2?

DC fans have a plethora of content to look forward to in the coming years. Gunn has laid out his DCU plan, and it involves big-screen films as well as TV series. Fans are entering the golden age of DC Comics adaptations, and the success of Superman confirms what fans are looking for in the superhero genre. The slate of entertainment that Gunn has in store after the film and Peacemaker Season 2 includes the following: Supergirl (2026), Lanterns (2026), Clayface (2026), Krypto Shorts (unknown release date), Waller (unknown release date), and more.

Some other rumored projects involve the Justice League, Mr. Terrific, and Jimmy Olsen, given the success and the love for these characters from moviegoers. In Superman, Gunn teased fans with the Justice Gang, a team of superheroes that includes Hawkgirl (Isabel Merced), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), portraying the Guy Gardner version, which could mean this was an introduction to a Justice League in the making. Gunn has said in several interviews that he’s interested in introducing Wonder Woman and Batman into his DCU, and it would be a disservice to the characters and the fans if he did otherwise.

When Does ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Premiere?

After three years since the Season 1 finale, the wait for Season 2 of Peacemaker is almost over. The HBO Max series will premiere on Aug. 21 with Episode 1, titled “The Ties That Knot,” and consist of a weekly release schedule. Gunn, who is a credited writer for the entirety of Season 2, is also given credit for directing three out of the eight episodes this upcoming season. Other directors include Greg Mottola, with two directing credits, Peter Sollett, with one directing credit, and Alethea Jones, with two directing credits. Here are the expected dates for the weekly release schedule:

A refresher wouldn’t hurt viewers before the second season arrives, so setting time aside to binge the first season and possibly going to see Superman one more time on the big screen should start now. Peacemaker is streaming on HBO Max.

Peacemaker

Release Date

January 13, 2022

Network

HBO Max, Max

Directors

James Gunn, Brad Anderson, Rosemary Rodriguez

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  Christopher Smith / Peacemaker

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  Danielle Brooks

  Leota Adebayo