Summer 2025 is set to be a thrilling period for DC enthusiasts. Following the cinematic release of Superman, which marks the live-action inception of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Peacemaker for its second season. John Cena reprises his role as the peace-obsessed yet violent Christopher Smith, joined by many familiar faces from Season 1.
The first trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 offers a glimpse into the upcoming plot and its connections to the inaugural season and Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. From the unveiling of the DCU timeline and Rick Flagg's antagonistic role to the noticeable absence of Vigilante, here are the key insights from the trailer.
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Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante in Peacemaker Season 2
Describing John Cena’s Christopher Smith as the least intriguing character in Peacemaker would be an understatement. He embodies a fascinating paradox—a man who advocates for peace yet engages in brutal warfare. His character is a quintessential Gunn creation: a lovable goofball with a hidden heart of gold.
While Peacemaker ostensibly centers around its titular character, the series thrives on its ensemble cast. Much like The CW’s The Flash, the success of Peacemaker hinges on its supporting characters, and none shine brighter than Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante. The breakout star of Season 1, Vigilante provided comic relief as a clingy best friend with superhero aspirations, albeit with a somewhat pitiful demeanor. Though the adaptation strays from the comics, Stroma's portrayal is undeniably entertaining.
It's somewhat disappointing to see less of Vigilante in the Season 2 trailer. While John Cena naturally takes center stage, and Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt grapples with evident anger issues, Vigilante, played by Stroma, appears more in the background. We learn he's working at a fast food joint and grappling with the reality that saving the world doesn't guarantee fame. We hope the trailer doesn’t reflect his reduced role throughout the season.
Meeting the DCU Justice League ------------------------------The trailer kicks off with a surprising twist: Peacemaker attends an open interview with the Justice League. Sean Gunn's Maxwell Lord, Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl are present, and they seem to dismiss Peacemaker before he can even make his case.
This scene offers a clearer view of the Justice League's dynamics than the Superman trailer did. This version of the Justice League is far removed from the one briefly seen in Season 1, showcasing a more sarcastic and irreverent group that fits the Peacemaker universe better than the previous DCEU incarnation.
Gunn's inspiration from the Justice League International comics is evident, with Lord as the team's leader and financier. The focus is on a diverse group of oddballs and misfits rather than DC's most prominent heroes, who seek legitimacy through their association with the Justice League.
It's likely that Gunn filmed this scene during Superman's production to conveniently bring together Gunn, Fillion, and Merced. While the Justice League may not play a significant ongoing role in Peacemaker Season 2 beyond Chris's failed audition, it's enjoyable to witness their dynamic and the humor Isabela Merced brings to Hawkgirl. The DCU's take on the character promises to be far more engaging than the Arrowverse's version.
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The Return of Frank Grillo’s Rick Flagg, Sr.
Frank Grillo's Rick Flagg, Sr. is currently pivotal to the DCU's cohesion. He played a significant role in the Creature Commandos animated series and is set to make his live-action debut in Superman. Now, Flagg is poised to be a central antagonist in Peacemaker Season 2.
Though calling Flagg a "villain" might be an oversimplification given his motivations, he's a grieving father seeking justice for his son's murder. As the head of ARGUS, he possesses both the legal authority and moral justification to confront Peacemaker. This sets up an intriguing dynamic for Season 2, as Peacemaker grapples with his past actions in The Suicide Squad and his desire to be seen as a hero. The tension between Flagg's quest for vengeance and Peacemaker's redemption arc promises to be a compelling narrative thread.
Making Sense of the DCU Timeline
The connection to The Suicide Squad is a notable aspect of Peacemaker Season 2, indicating that certain elements of the previous DCEU are retained in the new DCU. The Suicide Squad can now be seen as the unofficial first DCU film, with numerous references tying it to the current continuity.
The DCU timeline is taking shape, starting with The Suicide Squad in 2021, followed by Peacemaker Season 1 in 2022, Creature Commandos in 2024, Superman in July 2025, and Peacemaker Season 2 in August 2025. The universe will then expand with series like Lanterns and films like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
James Gunn aims to preserve the work from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1, despite Warner Bros.'s clear delineation between past and future projects. As Gunn mentioned in an interview with IGN, the importance of canon is relative. "Hopefully there's authenticity and truth to those stories because we care about those stories, the characters, the actors, the performers, the animators," he said. "They all care about these stories, but it's not real."
Gunn has acknowledged the continuity issue caused by the DCEU Justice League's appearance in Peacemaker Season 1 and plans to address it in Season 2. A scene in the trailer suggests multiverse elements, with Chris encountering another version of himself in his father's dimension, offering a potential solution to the continuity conundrum.
Apart from the Justice League cameo, little prevents Gunn from officially integrating The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1 into the DCU. The standalone nature of The Suicide Squad allows for continuity with key characters like Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, John Cena’s Peacemaker, and Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller transitioning into the new canon. Recasting Harley Quinn would be unnecessary, given the widespread acceptance of Robbie's portrayal, though the same cannot be said for the Joker.
By the end of Peacemaker Season 2, the DCU's canon should be clearer. Fans are eagerly anticipating the series' return, hoping for more of Vigilante's presence in the narrative.
