{"id":159793,"date":"2025-08-20T00:58:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T00:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/159793\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T00:58:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T00:58:13","slug":"what-to-expect-in-peacemaker-season-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/159793\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Expect In Peacemaker: Season 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

After what seemed like a long silent period for what we now call the DC Cinematic Universe \u2014 or DCU for short \u2014 the first few projects announced by DC Studios CEOs James Gunn<\/a> and Peter Safran<\/a> are coming at great speed. The next one on the docket? The second season of Peacemaker<\/strong><\/a>, which arrives later this week.<\/p>\n

Reviews are out, and it\u2019s already Certified Fresh at 98% on the Tomatometer, with critics calling it a \u201cstandout in superhero television.\u201d<\/p>\n

But for those of us anticipating the return of Chris Smith (John Cena<\/a>) \u2014 aka Peacemaker \u2014 and the other members of the security agency A.R.G.U.S.-affiliated task force known as either the 11th Street Kids or Team Peacemaker, what can we expect? Thankfully, Cena, Gunn, and other members of the Peacemaker cast pulled back the curtain at this year\u2019s San Diego Comic-Con (and in times since) to give a peek at what\u2019s to come in the second chaotic season. Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Where We Left Off<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"John(Photo by Katie Yu\/HBO Max)<\/p>\n

Of course, as with almost any DC-related project, we have to check in with what came before and, more crucially, how much of it still matters going forward. Since the first season, Gunn and Safran orchestrated a universal reset with a new Superman (David Corenswet<\/a>), new status quos, and no Justice League.<\/p>\n

That last change is important, as the first season ended with a cameo from the League and a joke at Aquaman\u2019s (formerly Jason Momoa<\/a>) expense. But outside of the League appearance and the Aquaman jokes, most of season 1 remains intact. Following the 11th Street Kids preventing an alien invasion, Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks<\/a>) exposed Amanda Waller\u2019s (Viola Davis<\/a>) illegal use of criminals for secret extra-governmental operations. In response, the US government acknowledged the existence of the Task Force X program (also known as the Suicide Squad) and closed it down. Waller, however, retained her place in A.R.G.U.S. and switched tactics to Task Force M. As seen in the animated Creature Commandos<\/a> series, she now uses potentially inhuman monsters to carry out those secret missions.<\/p>\n

The others, meanwhile, scattered to make new lives for themselves either within or outside of A.R.G.U.S.<\/p>\n

Where Are The 11th Street Kids As Season 2 Begins?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"John(Photo by Erin Sintoes\/Max)<\/p>\n

Team Peacemaker, which includes Chris, Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland<\/a>), John Economos (Steve Agee<\/a>), Adebayo, and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma<\/a>), are still reeling from the vindictive things Waller managed to pull off in the fallout of Task Force X becoming public. As Holland put it during the SDCC presentation, \u201cThe events that happened have really affected her in a huge way.\u201d Waller ruined Harcourt\u2019s position within A.R.G.U.S., for example, and \u201c[Harcourt\u2019s] whole identity is her work. She doesn\u2019t know who she is without her work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder which character I relate to the most,\u201d Gunn quipped.<\/p>\n

Holland continued, \u201cShe is totally lost and you get to see how that manifests itself in the put-on confidence that comes from that vulnerability.\u201d As an example, a clip from the first episode shown at the panel saw Harcourt going into a rowdy bar just to pick a fight. Facing nearly everyone there, she almost wins. It remains to be seen, of course, just how she escapes the bar and what she will do next.<\/p>\n

\"Jennifer(Photo by Jessica Miglio\/HBO Max)<\/p>\n

Chris, meanwhile, is still seeking to be a true hero. Sure, his status in the world has risen a little since the first season \u2014 see his talk show appearance in Superman<\/a> \u2014 but he still feels like a D-lister. \u201cChris is a different guy,\u201d Gunn explained. \u201cHe\u2019s dealing with the demons he learned last season and the world isn\u2019t accepting him.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he continues to process these changes in his life, he discovers that his father\u2019s portal technology did more than hide a secret arsenal in a pocket dimension. It also offers access to parallel worlds. In one, he finds a truly successful version of himself who is admired, stable, heroic, and dating Harcourt. All of which was revealed during a trailer opening the SDCC panel.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I watch the trailer, I see someone who\u2019s going through a rough patch and thinks the grass will be greener on the other side,\u201d Cena said. \u201cI think people will enjoy that aspect of the season because they can relate.\u201d<\/p>\n

But as our Chris tries to insinuate himself in that reality, the alternate Chris gets pissed, setting up one of the longer conflicts for the season. Cena promised it will feature a fight between the two that will lead to a \u201cvery exciting finish.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very short though,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n

\"Freddie(Photo by Jessica Miglio\/Max)<\/p>\n

The only character Gunn claims hasn\u2019t changed through or since season 1 is Stroma\u2019s Vigilante. He is still ready to drop everything to help Chris, but his fascination with Economos will also be explored, as detailed in the trailer.<\/p>\n

Agee, meanwhile, admits Economos is sort of the Nick Fury of the DCU. Although he was quick to joke about what that really means: \u201cI have some pretty intense computer hacking scenes this year, you guys\u2026 I get to pay my rent for a few more weeks!\u201d In terms of his status, he is still working for A.R.G.U.S. and Waller, but is \u201ctorn\u201d between his duties there and his dedication to the team of outsiders. \u201cI\u2019m walking a thin line this season,\u201d<\/p>\n

Adebayo, meanwhile, is something of a mystery, as Brooks ultimately had to miss the panel. From the trailer, she is still offering Chris the truest friendship he has ever experienced. But as she was behind the outing of Task Force X, it is clear she no longer has a place in A.R.G.U.S. or Waller\u2019s heart. Which is doubly tough as Waller is her mother.<\/p>\n

Gunn offered one glimpse into where she is at the start of the season: \u201cShe\u2019s so optimistic. She can\u2019t work in the intelligence agencies, but she wants to be a spy, so she\u2019s starting her own mercenary business and it\u2019s going nowhere at the beginning of the season. She doesn\u2019t let it get her down.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trailer also made it clear Judo Master (Nhut Le) will return.<\/p>\n

Summing the season up, Gunn said, \u201cI really like TV shows where characters grow and change\u2026 and sometimes regress.\u201d<\/p>\n

What About Those DCU Connections?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Frank(Photo by Jessica Miglio\/Max)<\/p>\n

Beyond the continuing characters and themes from the first season, the new DCU status quo will be felt both immediately and throughout the new run of episodes. According to Gunn, Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion<\/a>) and Max Lord (Sean Gunn<\/a>) will appear in the premiere. It remains to be seen, though, how often they will pop up. Additionally, the season begins a month after the events of Superman. \u201cIt is definitely part of the DCU now,\u201d Gunn said.<\/p>\n

A more long-term DCU element will be the presence of Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo<\/a>). Debuting in Creature Commandos as the human point man for Task Force M and appearing in a smaller capacity throughout Superman, Flag joins Peacemaker as an antagonist with a very understandable motivation: revenge.<\/p>\n

Many will recall the fight between Chris and Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman<\/a>) in The Suicide Squad. Chris ultimately proved victorious while Flag Jr. lay dead. In the month following Superman, Flag Sr. is now clear about Chris\u2019s role in his son\u2019s death and wants nothing more than to demand satisfaction.<\/p>\n

\"Frank(Photo by Jessica Miglio\/Max)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt [is] this evolution of Flag\u2026 but driven by revenge for his son,\u201d Grillo explained. \u201cHe is now in a position to finally get his hands on Peacemaker.\u201d Per Grillo\u2019s comments, it seems he will actually get a hold of Chris several times, but the outcomes of those encounters will not be final.<\/p>\n

Continuing plotlines begun in The Suicide Squad also means a large portion of that film counts in a DCU context. It just remains to be seen how much of the Corto Maltese operation is, in fact, canon. In recent days, Gunn has said the status of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie<\/a>) will be revealed in due time. He also said he would like to reintroduce Idris Elba<\/a>\u2019s Bloodsport into the new status quo, but don\u2019t expect firm news about either in the short term. In the meantime, the Flag feud will be ample fuel for Peacemaker.<\/p>\n

Will There Be New Characters?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Tim(Photo by Curtis Bonds Baker\/Max)<\/p>\n

Sol Rodriguez<\/a> and Tim Meadows<\/a> join the fray this season. Rodriguez plays Sasha Bordeaux, a character introduced in a 2000 issue of Detective Comics. There, she was a former Secret Service agent-turned-private contractor and head of personal security for Bruce Wayne. Learning his secret, she trains with Batman and falls for him. He does likewise, but circumstances prevent their feelings from progressing and, ultimately, find Bordeaux working for Max Lord and receiving a form of cybernetic enhancement.<\/p>\n

It is unclear how many of these details will carry over into Peacemaker, with Rodriguez just calling Bordeaux a \u201cbadass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gunn also kept mum, only offering the following: \u201cSasha is a character I like in the comics, and I wanted someone with a superhuman tinge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meadows won the part of A.R.G.U.S. agent Langston Fleury, a character who appears to be original to the series, after Gunn tried other actors and finally thought \u201cMeadows might be good.\u201d The actor tried not to fanboy while the two discussed the part on a video call and after hearing the pitch for Fleury\u2019s arc, he agreed to join the cast.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the easiest negotiating,\u201d Meadows quipped.<\/p>\n

While it is unclear just what he\u2019s up to, Fleury has a curious quirk: he cannot tell birds apart. To him, Eagley and a sparrow look exactly the same.<\/p>\n

What About The Credit Sequence?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Peacemaker(Photo by HBO Max)<\/p>\n

Peacemaker\u2019s first season had a genuine phenomenon with its unexpected credit sequence \u2014 a dance number to the tune of Wig Wam\u2019s \u201cDo Ya Wanna Taste It?\u201d Asked if the new season would do something new or different, Gunn confirmed there will be a new title sequence with a new song. While he was reluctant to reveal it at the SDCC panel, he subsequently announced it will be \u201cOh Lord\u201d by Foxy Sham.<\/p>\n

Going back to the SDCC presentation, Gunn explained his process in devising a new intro. \u201cYou start by not trying to overdo it,\u201d he said. \u201cNobody saw the season one credits coming. People couldn\u2019t believe what they\u2019re seeing. So, it isn\u2019t trying to one-up. It is a different song, new characters, great dancers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the best dancer,\u201d Grillo joked. \u201cThe dancing started out as something I did reluctantly and it turned into me becoming the best dancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Holland added she requested the chance to do the \u201clift\u201d from Dirty Dancing, although it is unknown if she is the one doing the lifting. \u201cI didn\u2019t request it to anyone but the universe,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

In terms of the various sourced songs \u2014 a Gunn specialty since at least Guardians of the Galaxy \u2014 the executive producer teased it will be in line with the first season soundtrack, but \u201cmore modern.\u201d He also said, \u201c[It\u2019s] a lot of bands I love. I write with my huge playlist with sleaze metal song.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will There Be More Peacemaker?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"John(Photo by Jessica Miglio\/Max)<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen if Peacemaker will live on after the second season. Originally, it was meant to follow a Waller TV series, but development of that project stalled while Peacemaker was fast-tracked into production. It is possible Waller may emerge before any decisions are made about the far future of Chris and the 11th Street Kids.<\/p>\n

Peacemaker: Season 2<\/a> premieres August 21, 2025 on HBO Max.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Find Something Fresh! Discover What to Watch, Read Reviews, Leave Ratings and Build Watchlists. Download the Rotten Tomatoes App.<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After what seemed like a long silent period for what we now call the DC Cinematic Universe \u2014…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":159794,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[26430,171,487,6584,173,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-159793","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-dc-universe","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-hbo-max","11":"tag-streaming","12":"tag-tv","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115058383547905404","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=159793"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159793\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/159794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=159793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=159793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=159793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}