James Gunn, the creator of Peacemaker, shared his frustration regarding a specific detail in season 2, episode 4: the portrayal of eagle droppings. Despite his deep involvement in the show, Gunn found the visual effects for the eagle poop unsatisfactory, a detail that caught his attention during filming.
Behind the Scenes: Improving the Eagle Poop Realism
On the official Peacemaker podcast, Gunn explained the issue in conversation with actors Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, and Tim Meadows. He recalled,
“I just remember I got really upset because the first time they brought it out, it looked like it was a bunch of melted ice cream or melted taffy or something,”
expressing his disappointment with how artificial the effect appeared.
He continued,
“But like, it just looked totally fake to me, you know? It looked like it was gushier, which is kind of grosser, but it didn’t look real.”
To improve the depiction, Gunn researched eagle droppings and shared reference images with the production team.
“I’m like, ‘Haven’t you ever seen bird shit? Like, bird shit looks like… this’, and I went and I looked up pictures of eagle shit and I sent them what it looked like. And it’s still kind of weird in the way it snaps off; I was never a hundred percent happy with it, but it was much better than it originally was.”
Context of the Eagle Poop in Episode Four
The episode titled “Need I Say Door,” which aired on September 11, follows Chris (John Cena) escaping with Eagly, his eagle companion, after Economos (Steve Agee) warns about an approaching A.R.G.U.S. raid. Their flight leads them into the woods where Michael Rooker’s villain Red St. Wild pursues them by tracking the eagle’s droppings. The unusual detail of following and even tasting eagle poop adds a tense and uneasy atmosphere to the pursuit.
In other parts of the episode, Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) attempts to recruit Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) for a role within A.R.G.U.S. that involves capturing Peacemaker, a proposal Harcourt accepts. Meanwhile, Chris reveals to Adebayo his plan to move to an alternate dimension, adding emotional weight to the storyline.
James Gunn’s On-Set Contributions and Show Trivia
Adding to his hands-on involvement, James Gunn served as the stand-in for Eagly during filming, including the eagle’s dance solo featured in the new intro sequence. While directing Eagly’s voice actor, Gunn reportedly had to mute himself because he found the performance “ridiculous” and could not stop laughing. This detail highlights the lighthearted moments behind the intense and often dark scenes of Peacemaker.
Season 2 also features a surprising cameo from Gunn himself, a detail likely to be noticed only by dedicated fans deeply embedded in the DC universe scene.
Ongoing Release and Viewing Details
Peacemaker season 2 releases new episodes every Thursday on HBO Max in the U.S. and on Sky/NOW in the U.K. Fans can stay updated with episode schedules and explore more about the expanding DC Universe via various guides that cover DCU Chapter One.
Significance of Gunn’s Attention to Detail
James Gunn’s frustration with the eagle poop effect reflects his commitment to authenticity, even in minor details, which contributes to the show’s immersive and gritty tone. This meticulousness also underscores the challenges in balancing humor and realism in a series known for its mix of intense action and quirky characters. As the season continues, viewers can expect more moments where Gunn’s vision, combined with creative production efforts, shapes the unique narrative style of Peacemaker.
