Summer 2025 is set to be a thrilling period for DC fans. Just weeks after the cinematic debut of Superman, which marks the beginning of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU, viewers will be treated to another season of Peacemaker. John Cena reprises his role as the peace-loving yet gun-toting Christopher Smith, joined by many of the beloved characters from Season 1.
The first Peacemaker Season 2 trailer provides a clearer picture of the upcoming plot and its connections to both Season 1 and Gunn's The Suicide Squad. From new insights into the DCU timeline and Rick Flagg's villainous turn to the noticeable absence of Vigilante, let's dive into the key points from the trailer.
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Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante in Peacemaker Season 2
While it might be unfair to label John Cena's Christopher Smith as the least intriguing character in Peacemaker, he undoubtedly holds his own with his unique blend of contradictions. He's a man who champions peace but engages in violent conflict, and his quirky humor and hidden compassion are hallmarks of Gunn's style.
Yet, Peacemaker is not just about its titular hero; it's a true ensemble piece. The supporting cast is vital to the show's success, much like how The Flash series on The CW thrived on its team dynamic. Among these supporting characters, Freddie Stroma's Vigilante shines the brightest. He was the standout of Season 1, a humorous counterpart to Peacemaker—a clingy best friend with superhero potential, albeit hindered by his own personal flaws. Though the adaptation may stray from the comic books, his entertaining presence is undeniable.
It's somewhat disappointing, then, to see less of Vigilante in the trailer. While John Cena and Jennifer Holland's Emilia Harcourt, who appears to be grappling with her anger, take center stage, Stroma's Adrian Chase is pushed to the background. We catch a glimpse of him working at a fast food joint, wrestling with the fact that saving the world doesn't guarantee fame. Fans would have appreciated more screen time for him, and we hope the trailer doesn't fully reflect his diminished role in the season.
Meeting the DCU Justice League ------------------------------The trailer kicks off with an unexpected scene: Peacemaker attending an open interview with the Justice League. Sean Gunn's Maxwell Lord, Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl are there, seemingly dismissing Peacemaker before he even speaks. This scene offers a deeper look into the Justice League's dynamics, setting them apart from the brief appearance in Season 1. This new Justice League is more sarcastic and irreverent, fitting seamlessly into the Peacemaker universe and far removed from the more formal DCEU iteration.
Gunn's influence from the Justice League International comics is evident, with Lord as the team's leader and financier, and an emphasis on a diverse group of characters who benefit from the legitimacy of being part of the Justice League. It's likely this scene was shot during the filming of Superman, allowing for the seamless inclusion of these actors. While the Justice League might not play a major role beyond Peacemaker's failed audition, it's exciting to see the team's dynamics and the humor Isabela Merced brings to Hawkgirl, especially after the less successful Arrowverse portrayal. The new Justice League is shaping up to be a fun and engaging addition to the DCU.
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The Return of Frank Grillo’s Rick Flagg, Sr.
Frank Grillo's Rick Flagg, Sr. emerges as the connective tissue of the DCU. He played a significant role in the animated series Creature Commandos and is set to make his live-action debut in Superman. Now, he's poised to be the central antagonist in Peacemaker Season 2.
Though "villain" might be a strong word, Flagg's motivations are complex. He's a father grieving the loss of his son and now heads ARGUS, giving him both the authority and the moral high ground in his conflict with Peacemaker. This setup promises a compelling dynamic in Season 2. Peacemaker, despite his desire to be seen as a hero, cannot escape his past actions in The Suicide Squad. His journey toward redemption is fraught with challenges, and viewers may find themselves torn between supporting Flagg's quest for justice and rooting for Peacemaker's redemption.
Making Sense of the DCU Timeline
The direct continuation from The Suicide Squad into Peacemaker Season 2 is intriguing. Despite the DCU's aim to start fresh, some elements from the previous DCEU are retained, suggesting that The Suicide Squad serves as the unofficial start of the DCU. The timeline is becoming clearer: The Suicide Squad (2021), Peacemaker Season 1 (2022), Creature Commandos (2024), Superman (July 2025), and now Peacemaker Season 2 (August 2025), with subsequent projects like Lanterns and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow set to follow.
Gunn is keen to preserve the work he invested in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, despite the shift in continuity. As he shared with IGN, canon is important but not absolute. "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 acknowledges the challenge posed by the DCEU Justice League's cameo in Season 1, which he plans to address in Season 2. "The truth is almost all of Peacemaker is canon with the exception of Justice League … which we will kind of deal with in the next season of Peacemaker," he hinted. The trailer suggests that the multiverse might play a role in resolving this continuity issue, particularly through scenes involving Peacemaker entering his father's dimension and encountering another version of himself.
Ultimately, by the end of Season 2, the distinction between what is and isn't canon in the DCU should become clearer. Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Peacemaker, hoping for more Vigilante and an engaging exploration of the DCU's evolving narrative.
