The Peacemaker SDCC panel revealed several new details about its second season, written and directed by James Gunn. A new trailer, along with multiple interviews, sheds light on the details of Peacemaker season two. The trailer teased the storyline fans can expect in the eventual release, including many returning characters. Peacemaker (John Cena) is involved in another crazy plot and a new emotional storyline. James Gunn notably said in an interview with IGN that the theme of this season is “about redemption.” Through a “parallel universe,” fans will get to see Peacemaker tested by the temptations of an alternate life, and his troubled past catching up to him. This pressure comes in the form of a new antagonist, Rick Flag Sr., played by Frank Grillo. Returning characters include Economos (Steve Agee), Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), and Eagley. The panel revealed that returning characters also get personal developments this season. This includes the arch-nemesis of Eagley, named Red St. Wild, a famous eagle hunter. James Gunn considers Red St. Wild as “Eagley’s Lex Luthor.”
Connecting to the DCU
The show will connect with the reboot DCU, as it has already been confirmed that Guy Gardner and Hawkeye will be featured in the very first episode. The show will return with a new intro, featuring music and choreography showcasing the cast. Comic book readers may recognize Sasha Bordeux, played by Sol Rodriguez, introduced as a character with a “metahuman tinge.” Sasha Bordeaux, in the comics, is an associate of Bruce Wayne, outfitted with cybernetics that grant her enhanced physical prowess. Her connections to Batman are something to take note of because of the reboot. However, it doesn’t seem to be the focus of the canon of this season. Being part of the main cast this season suggests she will play a big role. Additionally, Tim Meadows is playing the part of Langston Fleury, an ARGUS agent who serves as another antagonist for Peacemaker. Charismatic as the new actors are, it is safe to assume that they will be great additions to the cast.
Returning Characters
Before the new season premieres, James Gunn shared some details of the show for those eager to know. The second season will take place 1 month after the events of Superman (2025), tying it to the rebooted DCU. In an exclusive clip at the SDCC panel, Economos and Fleury are seen spying on Peacemaker. We can assume from this that Economos is still reluctantly serving another antagonist, siding against the show’s main character. Throughout the clip, Fleury reveals to Economos that he has “bird blindness,” describing his inability to distinguish different birds. Another exclusive clip shows Emilia Harcourt fighting a group of men at a bar, eventually getting knocked out. This alludes to the fact that she is blacklisted for her actions in the first season, venting frustrations. This is sort of the development Harcourt will have this season, contrasting Peacemaker’s progression with her regression. There is much yet to see, as this is only within the first few episodes of the season.
While not shown in any clips, James Gunn additionally shares an update on Adebayo’s development during the season. Adebayo is attempting to start up a mercenary service at the beginning of the season. He notes that this endeavor is not going well, as she isn’t particularly skilled at working in some kind of espionage. He mentions, however, that Adebayo remains optimistic even as she struggles to do this. Adebayo was a key character in the first season, so it is interesting to see how she has been growing since then. These small clips and details show that Peacemaker still has the same passionate storytelling as ever.
Fan Reception
Fan reactions so far have been echoing their positivity through social media. Most responses share how excited they are to see their very characters return in the new season. Many fans are also analyzing and theorizing upon each new reveal. They are positively receptive to the inclusion of the new characters played by Rick Grillo, Tim Meadows, and Sol Rodriguez. The hype has been building up for years after the first season, coupled with nervous energy amid the reboot. James Gunn has clarified that most of the events of the show will stay canon within the rebooted universe. The events that aren’t were outlined by him in the official Peacemaker podcast in preparation for season two. However, there are some reactions by fans about multiverse fatigue, likely onset by the MCU movies in recent years. Some people have exclaimed that the show will become redundant with the “parallel universe.” It is difficult to say if this will be a big influence after the season premieres, but the majority are confident that the show will deliver.
The Future of Peacemaker
In the grander scheme of things, Peacemaker is primed to delight longstanding fans and create some new ones. The attention coming from Superman (2025) will boost the show’s attention. And while the first season is mildly self-contained, we can expect season two to expand the DCU, with Gunn now at the helm. If we expect the show to be more successful than previously, there’s a chance that the show will be confirmed for a 3rd season soon. The positive reception of both Peacemaker and the greater DCU serves as good fortune in support of quality film for DC material. As some fans have already said, the fandom can finally start to look forward to new releases in this universe. In that case, perhaps a redundant multiversal plot element can be excused, just this once. Season two of Peacemaker will premiere on August 21, 2025, on HBO Max.
