The DC Universe has undergone a lot of shake ups in the recent past, with new studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran intent on overhauling the former DC Extended Universe and introducing a whole new slate of movies and TV shows set in an entirely different continuity to what has come before.
And while Gunn may be busy putting together his vision for a new Superman reboot, he has still found the time to bring one of the few remaining remnants of the old DCEU across into his freshly minted DC Universe. We’re talking, of course, about John Cena’s hilariously inappropriate anti-hero Christopher Smith, AKA Peacemaker.
With screen veteran Robert Patrick, who played Cena’s onscreen father Auggie Smith in Peacemaker Season 1 set to join us for Supanova in Sydney (22-23 June), and Supanova in Perth (29-30 June), we thought it timely to take a look at the DCU’s plans for the return for the costumed crime fighter with the famous chrome helmet.
WHEN IS ‘PEACEMAKER’ SEASON 2 SET TO ARRIVE?
First announced in February 2022, filming on Peacemaker Season 2 was originally planned to get underway before Gunn was named co-CEO of DC Studios and was given the task of charting a whole new vision for the beloved franchise. While this ultimately resulted in a delay to the show’s highly anticipated second season, filming officially commenced on April 14 this year with Gunn commemorating the first official day of shooting with the following picture on Instagram:
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While no official release date has yet been announced for Peacemaker Season 2, it is likely to arrive sometime in the later half of 2025 after the release of Gunn’s new Superman.
HOW DOES ‘PEACEMAKER’ SEASON 2 FIT IN THE NEW DCU?
During his original announcements for the new DC Universe, Gunn made it clear that while most aspects of the old DCEU would be swept away, a number of characters would still make the leap across into the new cinematic universe. This not only includes Cena’s Peacemaker and his show’s fellow characters Vigilante, Emilia Harcourt and John Economos, but Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle and Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller are also set to make the leap.
As for the events of Peacemaker Season 1, which saw Cena’s Christopher Smith come face-to-face with the old Justice League, Gunn has said that while some things from the first season will still have happened in his new DCU, not everything from Season 1 is officially canon moving forward. Exactly how far Season 2 will divert from the events of Season 1 remains to be seen, though Peacemaker’s meeting with Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and Ezra Miller’s Flash will likely be retconned completely.
As for where Season 2 will fit into the new DCU chronology, it is said to pick up after the events of next year’s Superman movie.
WILL ROBERT PATRICK’S AUGGIE SMITH RETURN?
Despite Cena’s Peacemaker shooting his own father during the events of Season 1, it is possible that Robert Patrick’s Auggie Smith will make a return for Season 2. Not only does Cena’s character see a vision of his dead father in the Season 1 finale, but his spectral apparition even suggests that his son will never be free of his presence.
Given the important role Auggie Smith played in helping to explain Peacemaker’s many and varied character flaws, his continued presence as either an hallucination or a ghostly apparition would make sense as the story continues to unfold.
WHAT ABOUT THE INTRO SEQUENCE?
A lot of things made Peacemaker stand out from other superhero shows, but the one thing that helped set the tone for the entire series was the iconic opening dance sequence set to Wig Wam’s Do Ya Wanna Taste It. However, while Season 1’s opening credits quickly became a viral hit, due in no small part to Patrick’s attempt to keep pace with the choreography, Gunn has revealed that Season 2 will feature an entirely new dance sequence.
The reasoning behind providing Season 2 with a new dance number comes mainly because the Season 1 opener features multiple characters who have already been killed off and will not be returning. Whether Gunn will stick with the same song or will choose an equally catchy hair metal tune remains to be seen.
In the meantime, you can meet Robert Patrick at Supanova in Sydney (22-23 June), and Supanova in Perth (29-30 June)!
