Summer 2025 is shaping up to be an exhilarating time for DC fans. Hot on the heels of the theatrical release of Superman, which marks the live-action debut of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU, we're gearing up for another thrilling season of Peacemaker. John Cena returns as the gun-toting, peace-loving Christopher Smith, and he's joined by much of the beloved Season 1 cast for another round of action-packed adventures.
The first trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 provides a tantalizing glimpse into the plot and its connections to both the previous season and Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. From new insights into the DCU timeline and Rick Flagg's role as the "villain" to the noticeable absence of Vigilante, let's dive into the key takeaways from the trailer.
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Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante in Peacemaker Season 2
Calling John Cena's Christopher Smith the least interesting character in Peacemaker would be an injustice. He's a captivating figure, embodying a walking contradiction as he preaches peace yet engages in brutal warfare. His character also showcases Gunn's signature blend of goofiness with a deeply buried heart of gold.
While Peacemaker ostensibly focuses on its titular character, the series thrives as an ensemble piece. The supporting cast is crucial to the show's success, much like how The CW's The Flash series relied on the dynamic of Team Flash. Among these supporting characters, Freddie Stroma's Vigilante stands out as the show-stealer. Vigilante was the breakout star of Season 1, serving as a humorous foil to Cena's Peacemaker—a clingy best friend with the potential to be a great superhero if not for his sad-sack nature. Though the series deviates from the comic book version of the character, his entertainment value more than compensates for it.
It's somewhat disappointing to see less of Stroma's character in the trailer. Naturally, Cena takes the spotlight, and Jennifer Holland's Emilia Harcourt gets ample focus, grappling with significant rage issues. However, Stroma's Adrian Chase is pushed to the background, shown working at a fast food restaurant and grappling with the harsh reality that saving the world doesn't guarantee fame. We hope the trailer isn't indicative of his overall role in the season, and that we'll see more of Vigilante's antics.
Meeting the DCU Justice League ------------------------------The trailer kicks off with a surprising twist as 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 all present, clearly dismissing Peacemaker before he can even make his case. This scene provides a deeper look at the Justice League's group dynamic than the Superman trailer does, showcasing a more sarcastic and irreverent team compared to the brief glimpse in Season 1.
Gunn's vision for the Justice League draws heavily from the beloved Justice League International comics, emphasizing a team of eclectic misfits rather than DC's top-tier heroes. Maxwell Lord serves as the team's leader and financier, much like in JLI. It's likely that this scene was filmed during the production of Superman, making it easier to gather Gunn, Fillion, and Merced. While the Justice League might not play a recurring role beyond Peacemaker's failed tryout, it's refreshing to see their dynamic and humor, especially with Merced bringing a vibrant personality to Hawkgirl. After the Arrowverse's lackluster portrayal, the DCU promises a more enjoyable take on the character.
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The Return of Frank Grillo’s Rick Flagg, Sr.
Frank Grillo is currently the linchpin of the DCU, with his character Rick Flagg, Sr. playing a significant role in the Creature Commandos animated series, making his live-action debut in Superman, and now set to be a central figure in Peacemaker Season 2. Flagg appears to be the main antagonist, though "villain" might be too strong a term given his motivations. He's a father mourning the loss of his son and now heads ARGUS, giving him both legal authority and moral justification in his conflict with Peacemaker.
This sets the stage for a compelling dynamic in Season 2. Despite Peacemaker's desire to be seen as a changed man and a legitimate hero, his past actions in The Suicide Squad cannot be overlooked. The question of how much viewers will sympathize with Flagg's quest for revenge against Team Peacemaker promises to be a thrilling aspect of the season.
Making Sense of the DCU Timeline
The direct connection to The Suicide Squad in Season 2 raises interesting questions about the DCU's continuity. While the DCU aims to start fresh, elements from the previous DCEU are being retained, with The Suicide Squad effectively serving as the unofficial first DCU movie. The timeline is becoming clearer: The Suicide Squad (2021), Peacemaker Season 1 (2022), Creature Commandos (2024), Superman (July 2025), and Peacemaker Season 2 (August 2025), followed by an explosion of new shows and movies like Lanterns and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
Gunn is keen to keep the continuity of his previous works, understanding the value of the hard work invested in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1. As Gunn mentioned in a recent interview 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."
The presence of the DCEU Justice League in Season 1 posed a continuity challenge that Season 2 will address. Gunn hinted that "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." The trailer suggests that the multiverse might be the solution, particularly with a scene where Chris encounters another version of himself in his father's dimension.
With the exception of the Justice League cameo, there's little stopping Gunn from officially integrating The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1 into the DCU. The standalone nature of The Suicide Squad allows for continuity, keeping actors like Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and John Cena as Peacemaker, while also allowing for recasting where necessary, such as with the Joker.
By the end of Peacemaker Season 2, the DCU's canon should be much clearer. Fans eagerly await the series' return, hoping for more of Vigilante's presence.
