Two PEACEMAKER Fan-Favorites Rumored to Return in DCU's THE PEOPLE V. GORILLA GRODD
It looks like two of the DCU's most entertaining troublemakers could be making a comeback! A new rumor suggests that Vigilante and Judomaster from Peacemaker will appear in HBO Max's upcoming series The People v. Gorilla Grodd, bringing a little more chaos to an already ridiculous-sounding DC story.
According to scooper @ApocHorseman, Freddie Stroma and Nhut Le are reportedly reprising their roles as Adrian Chase, aka Vigilante, and Judomaster.
The scooper shared the news on X, writing, “EXCLUSIVE: Vigilante And Judomaster Are Set To Return In The People V. Gorilla Grodd.”
Both actors reportedly completed their scenes in a single day, which suggests they'll have relatively small roles in the eight-episode series. We're probably looking at quick cameos rather than major appearances, but seeing these two characters again would be a lot of fun.
Of course, DC Studios hasn't confirmed anything yet, so we'll have to see if this rumor pans out.
Stroma's Vigilante became a fan favorite thanks to his completely unhinged approach to crime-fighting, his impressive combat skills, and his hilarious devotion to John Cena's Christopher Smith. He's a self-appointed hero with a serious lack of common sense, which makes him one of the funniest characters in Peacemaker.
Le's Judomaster is equally entertaining, although he has a much more confrontational relationship with Peacemaker and his crew. The martial arts expert originally served as an adversary to the team, and his aggressive personality made for some great comedic moments.
Both characters have interesting histories in DC Comics. Vigilante's alter ego, Adrian Chase, was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, making his debut in The New Teen Titans #23 in 1982. He later took on the Vigilante identity in The New Teen Titans Annual #2 in 1983.
Judomaster actually goes back quite a bit further. The character first appeared in Charlton Comics' Special War Series #4 in 1965, created by writer Joe Gill and artist Frank McLaughlin. The original Judomaster was Rip Jagger, a very different incarnation from the character fans know through Peacemaker.
As for The People v. Gorilla Grodd, the series has a pretty wild premise that sounds perfectly suited for some of the DCU's stranger personalities.
Skyler Gisondo stars as Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen, who finds himself investigating Gorilla Grodd's conviction for murdering his own father, the King of Gorilla City.
Yes, we're getting a DCU comedy about a super-intelligent gorilla accused of killing his royal father. That's the kind of comic book insanity I can get behind. Jimmy Tatro will play Gorilla Grodd, while Tony Yacenda is directing all eight episodes.
It's still unclear how Vigilante and Judomaster would fit into Jimmy Olsen's investigation, but their potential involvement could make for some hilarious encounters. Given their personalities, it's hard to imagine either one being particularly helpful in a murder investigation.
The prospect of seeing these Peacemaker favorites pop up elsewhere in the DCU is exciting, even if it's only for a scene or two.