PEACEMAKER Season 2 Seems to Take a Subtle Swipe at Jared Leto’s Joker
Peacemaker is back and it’s not holding back any punches, even when it comes to throwing shade at Jared Leto. The first episode of Peacemaker Season 2 includes a gag that fans think is a not-so-subtle dig at both Leto’s music and his DC legacy as the Joker.
If you’ve been wondering what’s going on with Leto’s version of the Clown Prince of Crime in the new DCU reboot, the answer is… nothing. Leto played the Joker in Suicide Squad (2016) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), but he’s been missing in action ever since the DC Universe began its overhaul under James Gunn and Peter Safran. Now, it seems Peacemaker might have just delivered a brutal comedic send-off.
The moment came during a scene between John Cena’s Peacemaker and Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt. After Harcourt smashes a car dashboard with her fists, Peacemaker quips:
“The last time I was in that car, it was playing Spin Doctors or Thirty Seconds to Mars or some s—. I was gonna kick its a– then, but you two seem like you were on good terms.”
Harcourt quickly snaps back with:
“I am not on good terms with Thirty Seconds to Mars — how dare you.”
The scene continues in a post-credits moment where Harcourt defends Spin Doctors, saying:
“You can’t be looping Spin Doctors in with Thirty Seconds to Mars. Spin Doctors: so good!”
Peacemaker fires back with:
“Jeez, anyone’s better than Thirty Seconds to Mars. That garage band I was in for two seconds is better than Thirty Seconds to Mars.”
Yeah, it’s a clear burn. Fans were quick to connect the dots between the diss and Leto’s uncertain DC future. Given that Peacemaker exists in the same universe being reshaped by Gunn, and Gunn previously opted not to include Leto’s Joker in The Suicide Squad, the jab definitely feels intentional.
Back in 2021, Gunn explained why he didn’t bring Leto’s Joker into his version of the Suicide Squad:
“He wouldn’t be helpful in that type of war situation.”
Peacemaker continues to do what it does best by delivering sharp, irreverent humor while dropping DC universe breadcrumbs fans love to dissect.