James Gunn has shared how George R.R. Martin’s work significantly influenced his approach to the DC Universe, especially in the development of Peacemaker Season 2. During a recent podcast, the co-head of DC Studios discussed how Martin’s creative input shaped important story elements and inspired the evolving narrative of the DC Universe under Gunn’s guidance.
The Origin of Salvation and Martin’s Creative Influence
Reflecting on Peacemaker’s second-season finale, Gunn revealed that the concept of Salvation—a prison colony featured prominently in the show—traces back to a storyline Martin contributed long ago. The idea first appeared decades earlier when Martin co-developed a pitch about exiling superpowered criminals to an isolated planet, forming a harsh new society.
Gunn explained the evolution of this concept, stating,
“I think the reason is, is because over the years, comics have really changed and evolved. And you know, for people like us that read a lot of comic books, you can’t quite go back to 1950s and have straight ahead stories of Batman and Bat-Mite going, you know what I mean? It’s like you have to deal with everything that’s happened since then, and things get more complicated.” —James Gunn, DC Studios Co-Head
He also recounted discovering the extent of Martin’s impact on Peacemaker’s storyline through Martin’s early DC work and the comic arc Salvation Run, saying,
“And so a complicated idea like Salvation, which is, you know, as you pointed out in your podcast, George R.R. Martin’s idea — which I didn’t [know] — which is one of the craziest things to me, because I didn’t know about that until later. And I knew because I read Salvation Run, and I’m like, ‘Oh, this is such a great idea.’ I think the story can be more like this. And my story was always more like what George R.R. Martin’s original intention was — a guy who came out and talked, said great things about Superman, by the way — and so that was just, it’s just one of those weird moments where you go, God, life is so strange.” —James Gunn, DC Studios Co-Head
Martin’s original pitch likened the concept to the historical colonization of Australia, which began as a penal colony but eventually became a flourishing society. This metaphor underscores how individuals adapt and build civilizations even under harsh conditions.
Connections Between Peacemaker, Man of Tomorrow, and A Song of Ice and Fire
James Gunn also revealed that the Peacemaker Season 2 finale connects in some ways to his recently completed draft for Man of Tomorrow, the upcoming Superman sequel. Despite these links, Gunn emphasized that each story stands independently with unique tones and narratives.
Gunn credited Martin’s expansive fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire as a profound source of inspiration for shaping the DC Universe’s complex mythology, alongside traditional DC Comics. He said,
“Not to mention the fact that he, to me, really — like, his books are probably the biggest influence on me in terms of the DCU next to actual DC Comics. They’re the biggest, because they’re such well thought-out worlds that are so deep and so rich with so many connected characters and so many disconnected characters that I think it’s really what influences me more than anything else.” —James Gunn, DC Studios Co-Head
This influence can be seen in the way characters are portrayed with moral complexity and narratives are interwoven across multiple projects within the DC Universe under Gunn’s direction.
George R.R. Martin’s Praise for Gunn’s Superman Interpretation
In an interesting full-circle moment, George R.R. Martin recently expressed admiration for Gunn’s Superman film on his personal blog. He praised its hopeful tone and classic heroic spirit, calling it
“one of the best Superman movies in a long time… maybe ever.”
Martin singled out performances for special praise, stating,
“Rachel Brosnahan was terrific as Lois Lane; I’d say it’s between her and Margot Kidder for Best Lois Ever. And there’s no doubt whatsoever for the Best Lex. Nicholas Hoult was far and away the Best Luthor of All Time, a truly chilling villain.” —George R.R. Martin, Author
He further complimented David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman, writing,
“The kid in the cape was excellent as well. I hope he gets to play Kal-El in another dozen movies.” —George R.R. Martin, Author
Both Peacemaker and Superman are currently available for streaming on HBO Max, offering fans the latest chapters from James Gunn’s growing DC Universe.
Principal Cast of Peacemaker
The series features a talented ensemble, including John Cena as Christopher Smith, known as Peacemaker, and Danielle Brooks portraying Leota Adebayo. Their performances have been instrumental in bringing the complex characters and layered storytelling that define the show.
