Peacemaker’s second season, headlined by John Cena as Chris Smith, has arrived as the first live-action series directly tied to the James Gunn DC Universe since the release of 2025’s blockbuster Superman film. This new chapter not only continues the story of the troubled crime fighter but also signals significant shifts and expansions in the overarching DC Universe, setting the stage for future films, series, and character introductions.
Previously, Peacemaker existed as a quirky, standalone show amid a fading DC Extended Universe. Now, the series has re-emerged deeply embedded in the freshly rebooted DC Universe, intertwining with key properties and hinting at massive forthcoming developments. The show balances its signature mix of brutal action and trauma exploration with subtle yet meaningful teases about the wider superhero world, offering fans a glimpse at where this evolving franchise might head.
First Official Mention of Arkham Asylum in the New DC Universe
The continued presence of Batman and his world within the James Gunn DC Universe has been evident through various creative touches, but the second season of Peacemaker marks the first time Arkham Asylum is explicitly named. This notorious institution for Gotham’s most dangerous criminals appears in a news report that highlights ongoing meta-human prison breaks affecting places like Belle Reve, itself a key setting from The Suicide Squad.
Though viewers never see inside Arkham Asylum on screen, its confirmed existence underlines how Batman’s mythos remains a foundational pillar of this universe. Future productions such as The Brave and the Bold, which features an older Batman alongside his son Damian Wayne as Robin, suggest that Arkham will soon be filled with iconic foes awaiting their chance to wreak havoc. The fact that the DC Universe begins in medias res means Arkham may already be a hotbed of villainous activity, laying groundwork for future stories centered on Gotham’s dark side.
Amanda Waller’s Enduring Influence Despite Public Fall from Grace
Amanda Waller, portrayed by Viola Davis, ended the first season of Peacemaker facing massive fallout after Task Force X’s secrets leaked to the public, forcing her resignation from the A.R.G.U.S. director position. Rick Flag Sr. has taken over her official duties, relegating Waller out of the public eye. Yet, despite no longer being on screen regularly, she remains a powerful figure behind the scenes throughout the show’s second season.
One indication of Waller’s lingering control is her blacklisting of Emilia Harcourt, played by Jennifer Holland, preventing Harcourt from securing intelligence agency roles. Waller’s influence casts a long shadow over the characters’ lives, especially in how Peacemaker struggles with public perception as a hero, a narrative thread tied to Waller’s earlier machinations. This ongoing presence hints at her potential for causing further chaos in future DC Universe projects, including the upcoming Waller series, which promises to spotlight her character more prominently.
The Recurring Appearance of Mischievous Imps Across the Universe
A colorful touch from Superman’s film is the brief but striking battle between the Justice Gang and a brightly colored imp from another dimension, weaving DC’s universe-wide magic into a quiet moment between Lois Lane and Superman. This scene serves as a visual nod, illustrating that these mischievous imp creatures exist alongside the familiar heroes of the James Gunn DC Universe.
The imps return in Peacemaker Season 2 during a conversation between Chris Smith and alternate versions of his brother Keith and father Auggie. The characters recall the sheer chaotic antics these imps caused in their reality, including messing with cereal boxes, highlighting their capacity for mayhem. The frequent references to such imps suggest that classic comic imps like Mister Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite might eventually appear within the cinematic universe, expanding the supernatural elements available for storytelling.
Justice Gang’s Search for New Heroes Continues
The Season 2 premiere centers on Peacemaker attending an interview with key Justice Gang members Maxwell Lord, Hawkgirl, and Guy Gardner, played by Sean Gunn, Isabela Merced, and Nathan Fillion respectively. Despite their optimistic outlook, the Justice Gang views Peacemaker as a joke, momentarily revealed due to a technology failure. This scene strongly emphasizes Peacemaker’s isolation even among other heroes and sets up the Justice Gang’s ongoing efforts to recruit new members to their ranks.
Following Superman’s introduction of this group inhabiting an unfinished Hall of Justice, the Justice Gang is clearly in its formative stages, aiming to evolve toward becoming a major force akin to the classic Justice League. Metamorpho, portrayed by Anthony Carrigan, joined the team after the Superman film’s climax, and Maxwell Lord’s current recruitment efforts indicate their numbers will continue to grow. Despite these attempts, it’s apparent Peacemaker will not become part of the team soon, given Lord’s dismissive remarks.
Alternate Realities Provide a Way to Bring Back Fallen Characters
James Gunn has emphasized the permanence of death in the DC Universe, but Peacemaker Season 2 introduces a meaningful loophole through its use of the multiverse. Chris Smith discovers a parallel universe where his brother Keith survived childhood and his father Auggie is still alive, offering a glimpse into how alternate realities can resurrect familiar but different versions of characters once considered gone.
The third episode features a flashback of Emilia Harcourt and Rick Flag Jr. together before Flag’s fatal Suicide Squad mission, followed by the presentation of an alternate universe Rick Flag Jr., alive and well. This approach signals that while death is final in one reality, alternate versions of characters can lead to fresh narrative opportunities. Similar to how Baby Groot represents a new iteration of the original Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, the DC Universe’s dead may yet return in new forms from other dimensions.
This concept offers a renewed chance for beloved and controversial figures alike, such as Rick Flag Jr., who has been an internet punchline but now stands as evidence of the multiverse’s narrative possibilities within James Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe’s future.
