James Gunn Hints at PEACEMAKER’s Big-Screen Future in The DCU
James Gunn just dropped an interesting tease about where Peacemaker could be headed after Peacemaker Season 2, and it sounds like John Cena’s foul-mouthed anti-hero might not be confined to TV forever.
In Gunn’s Superman movie, Peacemaker makes a brief but memorable cameo, interrupting the chaos of Clark Kent’s family bombshell to take a jab at the hero on live television. It’s a quick comedic beat, but it raises questions about how much of the old canon Gunn is keeping and where Smith fits into this new DC Universe.
Season 2 will no doubt fill in some blanks, but Gunn’s latest comments suggest the story might be too big to stay on HBO Max.
When asked if Peacemaker could headline a feature film again, Gunn’s answer was cryptic, and very on-brand.
“I actually know the answer to that question. And I am not at liberty to say under penalty of the Safran punishment, which is a loss of my knuckle. Every time I give away something, Peter Safran will take away another joint of my finger. It’s very painful. He uses a cigar cutter.”
While that’s clearly Gunn having some fun, it’s telling that he didn’t shut down the idea. He could have easily confirmed that Peacemaker’s staying on the small screen, but instead he left the door wide open for a future big-screen appearance, possibly alongside other DC misfits.
Gunn has previously said the DCU’s central story thread isn’t tied to its most obvious heroes.
"Yeah, I don't think it's Krypto's story. I think I do know whose story it is, and it probably isn't anyone that anyone would ever expect."
I think there’s a chance DCU’s secret main character might be Peacemaker himself, the least likely guy to become a universe-saving hero. It would be a wild twist for a character who’s become kind of a joke in the DCU, but since The Suicide Squad has steadily become one of DC’s most unexpectedly layered protagonists.
For now, all we know is that Peacemaker Season 2 will build on Superman’s story and set the stage for whatever’s next, and Cena might want to keep that helmet polished for a potential red carpet return.
Peacemaker Season 2 premieres August 21, 2025.