DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has identified the three central characters driving the DC Universe’s (DCU) Salvation storyline following the finale of Peacemaker Season 2 on HBO Max in October 2025. This storyline centers on Salvation, a mysterious new planet introduced after ARGUS agents, including Emilia Harcourt and Sasha Bordeaux, discovered it past the Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC). Salvation is envisioned as a metahuman prison, setting the stage for future DCU projects such as Man of Tomorrow, signaling major narrative developments.
The introduction of Salvation highlights an intricate and high-stakes direction for the DCU, with the characters Rick Flag Sr., Lex Luthor, and Superman playing pivotal roles according to Gunn’s recent statements. These figures are expected to anchor the intertwined plots surrounding Salvation, shaping the DCU’s future stories.
Key Figures Taking Center Stage in DCU’s Salvation Saga
At the forefront of the Salvation plot is Superman, whose involvement is critical given his status as DC’s iconic hero and his fraught relationship with both Lex Luthor and Rick Flag Sr. Superman’s inclusion is unsurprising, considering that the new narrative sets him as a potential prisoner of Salvation, continuing Lex Luthor’s longstanding vendetta against him.
Lex Luthor remains a central antagonist who recently re-emerged in Peacemaker Season 2 and is now actively allied with Rick Flag Sr., weaving deeper connections that are likely to evolve in upcoming installments like Man of Tomorrow. Lex’s strategic mind and machinations around Salvation aim to trap Superman on this new planet, which could transform key alliances in the DCU storyline.
Rick Flag Sr. has undergone a notable transformation from hero to antagonist, driven by his grief and quest for revenge against Christopher Smith, the titular Peacemaker. His cooperation with Lex Luthor and his push to use Salvation as a prison for metahumans create major tension within ARGUS and the DCU’s broader power landscape.
Superman’s Crucial Role Amidst Rising Conflicts
Superman’s place in the Salvation story makes logical sense given his powerful symbolism and status within the DCU. He stands as the primary target of Lex Luthor’s hatred, and Rick Flag Sr.’s increasing antagonism positions him as a formidable threat as well. Flag Sr.’s apprehensive stance about metahumans potentially dominating Earth, revealed in the aftermath of the film Superman, compounds the tension between these characters.
Salvation, a planet designed to confine metahumans, may function as Lex’s ultimate trap for Superman after prior attempts, such as imprisoning him in a pocket dimension, failed. Though initially Flag Sr. may resist Lex’s full plan for the Man of Steel, his own desire for vengeance and the subtle manipulation by Lex suggest a growing alliance against Superman.
Since Superman previously freed many prisoners from Lex’s pocket dimension, his opposition to Salvation’s use as a metahuman prison appears inevitable. The storyline hints at the possibility that tremendous threats emerging from Salvation could compel Superman and Lex to forge a temporary alliance, potentially redefining their rivalry in the DCU.
Lex Luthor’s Expanding Schemes and Alliances
Lex Luthor’s return to the spotlight in Peacemaker Season 2 underscores his growing role in shaping the future of the DCU’s narratives around Salvation. Though absent physically in the season finale, his influence remains prominent through his alliance with Rick Flag Sr., aligning on the use of Salvation as a metahuman holding ground.
In the original DC Comics storyline Salvation Run, Lex led his own faction against the Joker’s group while trying to find a way back to Earth, but the DCU’s version introduces Salvation as a planet under the control of the New Gods, particularly DeSaad, employed as a training ground for Parademons. This twist adds layers of cosmic stakes to the DCU plots involving Salvation.
Lex’s ambition to lure Superman into Salvation may have unexpected consequences that force the two rivals into a reluctant partnership against an emerging, formidable danger. Moreover, this evolving dynamic offers Lex an opportunity to transform from villain to antihero within the DCU, enhancing his complex role in future movies.
Rick Flag Sr.’s Dark Descent and Internal Betrayal
Rick Flag Sr. emerges as the final crucial piece in the Salvation story, shifting from a heroic figure to a deeply flawed antagonist fueled by grief and revenge. His reaction to losing his son, Rick Flag Jr., in The Suicide Squad, and his subsequent hostility toward metahumans, place him on a collision course with the DCU’s heroes.
Flag Sr.’s dismissive attitude toward the deaths of ARGUS agents who explored the QUC, and his increasingly questionable actions, create unrest among the remaining agents. Characters like Sasha Bordeaux and Langston Fleury now align with the 11th Street Kids faction, forming the new DCU organization known as Checkmate, fueled by distrust of Flag Sr.’s leadership.
Despite his alliance with Lex Luthor, Flag Sr.’s personal contempt for metahumans shapes his aggressive push to utilize Salvation as a prison, even volunteering Christopher Smith as the test subject for the planet’s environment. This reckless determination to imprison metahumans poses serious risks, as the unknown threats lurking on Salvation could upend Flag Sr.’s plans and ultimately lead to his downfall.
Future Implications for the DC Universe
The revelation of the three essential characters involved in the Salvation storyline—Superman, Lex Luthor, and Rick Flag Sr.—demonstrates the intricate storytelling James Gunn is crafting for the DCU’s future. This arc promises emotional intensity, political intrigue, and character conflicts that challenge long-standing alliances and rivalries.
With Salvation at the narrative heart, the DCU is poised to explore harsh moral dilemmas and the futility of vengeance, while expanding cosmic lore through New Gods and Parademons. The evolving dynamics, especially between Superman and Lex Luthor, suggest a deeper, enduring story that will impact multiple movies and series.
James Gunn’s plan to direct several of these upcoming DCU films underlines the cohesive vision guiding the franchise. While working through his exhaustion, Gunn remains committed to pushing this storyline forward, ensuring that Salvation becomes a central chapter in shaping heroes and villains alike in the DC Universe.
