James Gunn‘s new direction for the DC Universe includes a significant retcon of a nearly decade-old DC movie, notably altering its place within the broader cinematic timeline. This retcon impacts how the DC Universe (DCU) aligns with the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU), allowing upcoming projects to selectively confirm or dismiss past events as canonical.
The recent television series Peacemaker has become a key vehicle in this retconning process, with season 2 notably reworking scenes previously set firmly in the DCEU. Where season 1 featured appearances from DCEU Justice League members such as Ezra Miller‘s Flash and Jason Momoa‘s Aquaman, the new season revises this by introducing the Justice Gang—a team including Green Lantern, Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, Superman, and Supergirl—establishing them as part of the current DCU continuity.
How Peacemaker Season 2 Changes the Story of a 2016 DC Movie
In Peacemaker season 2, episode 3, viewers encounter a flashback referencing the 2016 DCEU film Suicide Squad. This episode reveals that Rick Flag Jr. was involved romantically with Emilia Harcourt prior to the 2021 events of The Suicide Squad. Importantly, Rick admits to having an affair with Harcourt even though he was in a relationship with June Moone, played by Cara Delevingne in the original Suicide Squad film.
This revelation marks the first explicit acknowledgment of the 2016 Suicide Squad within the DCU’s current canon, a franchise shift guided by James Gunn. While elements from the 2021 Suicide Squad are already confirmed within this new continuity, the admission that Rick Flag’s relationship with June Moone was complicated by infidelity adds new layers to the storyline.
Moreover, the show hints at a deeper alteration: June is still referred to as a sorceress, implying that in the DCU, she continues to embody the Enchantress persona, despite that character’s apparent death in the 2016 film. This suggests that Peacemaker may have retconned more of Suicide Squad’s original plot than initially apparent.
Rick Flag Jr.’s Storyline Reframes Multiple DC Projects
The revelation about Rick Flag Jr. in Peacemaker season 2 reshapes how several DCEU and DCU projects connect. The relationship upheaval adds a darker tone to the already troubled romance in Suicide Squad, casting doubt on its happy ending. Meanwhile, The Suicide Squad film and Peacemaker‘s first season also gain new significance when reconsidered through this retcon.
In The Suicide Squad, Rick Flag dies after being stabbed by Peacemaker under orders from Amanda Waller. This event carries more emotional weight now, as viewers understand the personal entanglements behind it: Rick was Emilia Harcourt’s lover and June Moone’s boyfriend. The fact that Harcourt likely witnessed Rick’s death adds complexity to her character arc and motivations.
Additionally, this context influences Peacemaker’s characterization, highlighting the tension in his relationship with Harcourt, given that he was responsible for killing her former partner. Their evolving dynamic takes on greater depth and complexity within the DCU narrative framework.
These layered retcons demonstrate how James Gunn’s DC Universe is not only revisiting past stories but also altering them in ways that will affect future storytelling across movies and shows.
