James Gunn’s latest DC villain team is set to make a significant impact in upcoming DC Universe projects, adding a fresh twist to the familiar trope of villain alliances. This new team-up was revealed in Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 6, marking an important development in the expanding DCU storyline.
DC Studios confirmed an unexpected collaboration between Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor and Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. in the latest Peacemaker episodes. After debuting as Superman in July 2025, Hoult’s Luthor appeared alongside Flag during a tense visit to Belle Reve prison. The ARGUS leader sought Luthor’s expertise in interdimensional portal technology to locate a pocket dimension where Peacemaker had vanished, showing how essential this partnership is to the unfolding narrative.
Significance of the Luthor and Rick Flag Team-Up
James Gunn highlighted the importance of this alliance to the future of the DCU while discussing the scene with Phase Hero’s Brandon Davis. Gunn commented,
“You’ll see like where they go is very dependent on [their scene in Peacemaker Season 2]… Yeah, you’ll see.”
?James Gunn, DC Studios Co-CEO
This statement emphasizes how the energy and direction of upcoming DC projects hinge on this moment and the implications of their partnership.
This alliance between Luthor and Flag is the second villain coalition introduced in the new DCU, following Luthor’s villainous team in the Superman film. That group included supporting characters such as Eve Teschmacher and Otis Burg, along with María Gabriela de Faría’s Engineer and David Corenswet’s Ultraman, revealing the latter to be a Superman clone known as Hammer of Boravia. These groups set a tone of escalating threats that will shape future stories.
Currently, Gunn is advancing through three major ventures within the revamped DC Universe, with Creature Commandos, Superman, and the second season of Peacemaker already released. Fans eagerly anticipate Lanterns, slated for a 2026 debut on HBO Max, continuing to build this interconnected world.
What Fans Can Anticipate From This New Villain Collaboration
The brief encounter between Lex Luthor and Rick Flag Sr. in Peacemaker Season 2 merely introduces a potential partnership with far-reaching consequences. Both characters possess the capability to disrupt the DCU significantly, and their combined forces promise to elevate the stakes. Viewers can expect a deeper exploration of their union in the upcoming film Man of Tomorrow, scheduled for release in July 2027.
Gunn has indicated that Peacemaker lays the groundwork for the narrative arc in Man of Tomorrow, where the dynamic between Luthor and Flag will be a key focal point. While Rick Flag Sr.’s motives do not appear entirely villainous, Lex Luthor’s relentless vendetta against metahumans will likely drive many conflicts forward. This duality adds complexity to their alliance, balancing uneasy cooperation with competing agendas.
Given the fluid slate of projects planned by DC Studios beyond 2027, the appearance of additional villain teams seems likely. These collaborations could broaden the scope of antagonists and intensify the challenges faced by the heroes across movies and series, hinting at a layered and evolving narrative landscape.
Future Trajectory of the DC Villain Landscape
The unfolding storylines in the new DCU suggest that villain team-ups will play a strategic role in shaping the universe’s direction. With James Gunn’s creative vision steering the narrative, these coalitions are expected to introduce fresh tension and unpredictability, keeping audiences engaged. The relationships formed between characters like Lex Luthor and Rick Flag Sr. offer nuanced portrayals that explore both cooperation and conflict within villain alliances.
As the DC Universe continues to expand, fans should watch for emerging connections and power struggles that could redefine the boundaries between heroes and villains. Projects like Man of Tomorrow and Lanterns represent key milestones that will test these dynamics and set the course for future installments.
