The Future of Peacemaker: Unraveling the New DCU Continuity

Article Key Points

Peacemaker fans rejoice as the show's second season has been renewed, with eight episodes, as part of the new DC Universe (DCU) franchise.

In the thrilling conclusion of Season 1, Peacemaker faced off against the alien Butterflies in an intense confrontation, ultimately forcing him to make a challenging choice in accordance with his personal convictions.

The upcoming DC Universe (DCU) will embrace a cohesive narrative across various media platforms, incorporating a wider range of DC characters, including more diverse and lesser-known ones. Peacemaker Season 2 will establish links to other exciting projects within the DCU.

Peacemaker, the HBO Max series starring John Cena in the lead role, gained widespread popularity and acclaim upon its debut in January 2022. As a spin-off from James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, the show revolved around Peacemaker's involvement with Project Butterfly, a black ops team tasked with eliminating dangerous alien parasites that posed a threat to humanity. Throughout the series, Peacemaker confronted his inner demons, formed unexpected alliances, and uncovered shocking revelations about his past and mission. Fans of Peacemaker can now celebrate, as the second season of the show has been renewed and will consist of eight episodes. However, there is an unexpected twist in store.

In an intriguing development, Peacemaker season 2 will become a part of the new DC Universe (DCU), a comprehensive media franchise devised by James Gunn and Peter Safran. This ambitious project aims to establish a shared continuity encompassing films, television series, video games, and animation within the DC Universe.

How Did Peacemaker Season 1 End?

In the conclusion of Season 1 of Peacemaker, a gripping and emotionally charged showdown takes place between Peacemaker, his team, and the covertly infiltrating alien Butterflies, resulting in a bloody confrontation. Peacemaker and his allies make a shocking discovery that the Butterflies are feeding on a giant alien slug known as the 'cow,' which produces a syrupy substance that sustains them. Contrary to their appearance as evil invaders, the Butterflies insist they are actually benevolent helpers aiming to save humanity from self-destruction, which they witnessed on their own planet. In an unexpected twist, they implore Peacemaker to join forces with them and spare the cow, as they plan to teleport it to a safer location.

However, Peacemaker finds himself torn by this offer, as he has been grappling with his morality and sense of identity throughout the season. He is haunted by flashbacks of his troubled childhood, which includes witnessing the death of his brother and enduring abuse from his father. Additionally, he carries the weight of having killed Rick Flag in The Suicide Squad, a decision that continues to haunt him. As he reflects on his journey, Peacemaker comes to the realization that he has been conforming to other people's notions of peace, whether that be his father, Amanda Waller, or even the Butterflies. Ultimately, he decides to break free from this cycle and pursue what he believes is right.

He shoots Goff, the leader of the Butterflies, in the chest but doesn't kill her. Then, using Leota's helmet, he delivers a fatal blow to the cow, resulting in a massive explosion of gore. Covered in blood and guts, he emerges from the barn to find his wounded but alive teammates. Carrying Harcourt to safety, he criticizes the belated arrival of the Justice League, who are unable to offer assistance. Additionally, he once again encounters the ghost of his father, who taunts him for his actions.

The season concludes with Peacemaker sitting on his porch, enjoying a beer, while his father's ghost joins him once more. Previously startled by this apparition of his abusive dad, Peacemaker now seems more content and tells him to be quiet. He has finally embraced his true self and what he stands for, even if it means making enemies on his path.

Peacemaker Season 2 Will Be Part Of The DCU, But How?

The new DCU, created by James Gunn, is a forthcoming media franchise and shared universe rooted in characters from DC Comics publications. This iteration serves as a revitalization of the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which faced criticism for its inconsistent tone and lack of coherence. The DCU will establish a unified continuity and narrative across various media platforms, including film, television, video games, and animation. Additionally, the new DCU will introduce a broader range of diverse and lesser-known DC characters who will assume more significant roles and representation.

A notable aspect brought forth by the DCU is the concept of the multiverse, enabling different versions of DC characters and stories to coexist. The DCU multiverse draws inspiration from the comic book event Crisis on Infinite Earths, which entailed the merging of multiple parallel Earths into a singular entity. The DCU multiverse is also influenced by the Arrowverse, a television franchise featuring DC characters that incorporated a crossover adaptation of Crisis on Infinite Earths from 2019 to 2020. Not fitting within the DCU continuity, the Arrowverse is encompassed by the DC Elseworlds label.

The DCU introduces a significant change by featuring a wider range of diverse and lesser-known DC characters who will play more prominent roles and better represent underrepresented groups and talented individuals. Gunn and Safran aim to highlight the abundance and diversity of DC comics while providing more opportunities. In the DCU, viewers can expect to see popular characters such as Blue Beetle, Static Shock, Zatanna, Batgirl, Booster Gold, Black Adam, and Shazam.

James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios and showrunner of Peacemaker, confirms that the second season will tackle the transformations in the DC landscape. He assures fans that Peacemaker Season 2 will be a part of the new DCU continuity and will directly address these changes.

Gunn also shared that Peacemaker Season 2 will be interconnected with other DCU projects, like Superman: Legacy, the first DCU film slated for release in 2025. Collaborating with fellow DCU creators, he has worked diligently to ensure a coherent and unified storyline across various media platforms. Additionally, there are hints that some characters from The Suicide Squad may make appearances in Peacemaker season 2.

While an official release date for Peacemaker Season 2 has not been announced, filming is expected to start in the near future. Fans can anticipate an exciting blend of action, comedy, drama, and unexpected surprises as they follow Peacemaker and his allies (as well as adversaries) in the new DCU.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am thrilled about the renewal of Peacemaker for a second season and its inclusion in the new DC Universe (DCU). The first season was a wild ride, blending humor, action, and drama in a unique way. John Cena's portrayal of Peacemaker was spot-on, and the supporting cast was equally impressive. I can't wait to see what's in store for Peacemaker and the rest of the team in the upcoming season.

The conclusion of Season 1 left us with many unanswered questions, and I'm excited to see how they will be addressed in the new season. The introduction of the Butterflies and the exploration of Peacemaker's inner demons added a lot of depth to the show, and I'm eager to see how these elements will be further developed.

Overall, I'm very excited about the future of Peacemaker and the DCU. James Gunn and Peter Safran have a lot of ambitious plans for the franchise, and I can't wait to see how they unfold.