SPOILER WARNING: This article contains significant plot revelations from “Full Nelson,” the Season 2 finale of “Peacemaker,” now available on HBO Max.
With the release of “Superman” in July, a new era for the DC Universe was unveiled under the leadership of DC Studios co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran. However, Season 2 of Gunn’s HBO Max title “Peacemaker,” which wrapped up on Thursday, proves to be an even more vital foundation for the grand narrative Gunn intends to weave within the DCU. It introduces two significant components from the DC Comics: the covert agency Checkmate and the metahuman prison world known as Salvation.
Gunn elaborated in a virtual press conference on Tuesday (hosted by Variety) that the concept of Salvation is poised to be pivotal in his 2028 Superman sequel, titled “Man of Tomorrow.” Both Checkmate and Salvation will serve as crucial narrative threads throughout the entire DCU, extending into DC Studios’ upcoming HBO Max series, “Lanterns.”
“It may seem disconnected at first glance, but it’s all intricately linked,” he mentioned.
In fact, Gunn had envisioned incorporating Checkmate and Salvation into DC projects long before he and Safran were appointed to lead the DC franchise.
“These elements have always been essential to the overarching story I’m crafting in the DCU,” he shared. “I had outlined the broader narrative, and both Checkmate and especially Salvation were key components of that plan.”
So what exactly is Checkmate, and how does it fit into the DCU?
In the season finale of “Peacemaker,” penned and directed by Gunn, the 11th Street Kids team up to rescue their friend and the titular hero, Chris Smith (John Cena) — not from an evil adversary, but instead, from his own despair. Following traumatic experiences in the Nazi-infested alternate universe Earth-X in earlier episodes, where Chris witnessed his father die before him, again, and nearly lost his brother in front of him, again, Chris believes he is “the angel of fucking death.” Having abandoned his home and isolated himself from friends, he is drowning in sorrow at a budget motel.
Finally, after Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), Adrian (Freddie Stroma), Economos (Steve Agee), and Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) find him, they remind Chris that when he embraces his true self, he inspires them to do the same, marking one of the few moments they’ve felt genuinely good about their impact on the world. Thus, led by Adebayo, they decide to forgo the failing systems that have misled them and create something together that will truly enhance lives, using the vast accumulation of “blood money” Adrian has amassed from his crime-fighting exploits as Vigilante.
From left: Nhut Le, Tim Meadows, Freddie Stroma, Danielle Brooks, John Cena, and Jennifer Holland in “Peacemaker.”
Jessica Miglio/HBO Max
They subsequently discover Checkmate, an independent and private crime-fighting organization also featuring Judomaster (Nhut Le) along with disillusioned A.R.G.U.S. operatives Fleury (Tim Meadows) and Bordeaux (Sol Rodriguez). Checkmate has a rich history in DC Comics, with its debut in 1988 and a roster primarily comprising DC’s anti-heroes; both Peacemaker and Vigilante were among its early members, while Bordeaux has played a significant role as an operative. Notable characters from Checkmate include Amanda Waller, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Huntress, and Mister Terrific.
Gunn revealed that he has always been a fan of Checkmate in the comics and had an aspiration to integrate it into the DCU. “It represents the ultimate realization of the 11th Street Kids and their quest to do good,” he commented. Checkmate will remain distinct from other entities within the DCU. “I believe they’re going to excel at their endeavors. When we next encounter them, their situation will be quite different from the startup phase they’re experiencing now.”
What about Salvation?
Meanwhile, in the “Peacemaker” season finale, A.R.G.U.S. leader Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) has dispatched the agency to utilize Chris’ trans-dimensional portal to find an alternate universe that closely mirrors Earth. After multiple unsuccessful attempts — and the sacrifice of various personnel in bizarre universes plagued by flesh-eating zombies and deadly candyland creatures — Harcourt and Bordeaux seem to finally discover a suitable location.
(When asked if there were any alternate realities he wished to explore but couldn’t, Gunn burst out laughing. “I wanted them to open the door and encounter Deadpool hanging out there,” he chuckled. “I had a chat with Ryan Reynolds about it. But it would have required navigating through significant obstacles. He was all for it!” Glancing back, he added, “Oh, now that’s all anyone’s going to talk about — Deadpool in the next room. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it!”)
Once the A.R.G.U.S. team zeroes in on the optimal planet, they unveil the true intention behind their mission: Flag aims to utilize the planet, dubbed “Salvation,” as a containment facility for metahumans who cannot be managed on Earth — a concept initially introduced in the 2007–2008 limited series “Salvation Run.”
“I am intrigued by the notion of devising this prison that’s utterly inescapable, yet somewhat impulsive,” Gunn noted. “They believe it isn’t hazardous based on their initial assessments. Yet, the comics, along with this universe, carry foreshadowings of potential dangers.”
From left: Sol Rodriguez, Jennifer Holland, Anissa Matlock in “Peacemaker.”
Jessica Miglio/HBO Max
While “Salvation Run” features a plethora of DC’s infamous villains in conflict — driven by the enmity between Lex Luthor and the Joker — Gunn cautioned fans not to anticipate a DCU adaptation of Salvation to closely replicate the source material.
“It truly centers on the conceptual framework,” he remarked. “What resonated with me was the initial premise where Rick Flag Jr. and Amanda Waller declared, ‘Forget it. Metahumans are a nuisance. They continually escape. Let’s eliminate them for good.’ Naturally, there are repercussions for banishing numerous wrongdoers to another dimension. In this scenario, the lone inhabitant is a hero struggling for survival.”
In fact, the “Peacemaker” season finale concludes with a gripping cliffhanger, as Chris is abducted by Flag Sr. and thrown into Salvation as revenge for Chris killing his son, Rick Flag Jr.
What implications does this have for Season 3 of “Peacemaker”?
Gunn indicated that he currently has no plans for another season of “Peacemaker.” “This focuses on other narratives in which this [cliffhanger] will unfold,” he noted. He added that while he isn’t discounting the possibility of a Season 3, “Never say never. But at the moment, this is oriented towards the future of the DCU.”
Gunn remained tight-lipped about whether Cena would reprise his role as Peacemaker in “Man of Tomorrow” or even within the 2026 film “Supergirl.” However, it was evident that audiences can anticipate seeing more from the character. For one, he is integral to Gunn’s vision of harnessing the DCU to cultivate “diamond properties from the less prominent characters” in the DC Comics universe to stand shoulder to shoulder with Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman.
More importantly, Peacemaker is “extremely significant to me,” Gunn expressed. He was so emotionally affected while discussing how the Season 2 opening credits song, “Oh Lord,” by Foxy Shazam connected with the character that tears welled in his eyes.
“I have a deep affection for this character,” he shared. “I might say it reflects on me, but it’s truly about him. Chris embodies extraordinary humanity.”
John Cena portraying Peacemaker in the series.
Jessica Miglio/HBO Max
Gunn initially conceptualized Peacemaker as a “douchebag Captain America” for his 2021 feature “The Suicide Squad.” “He began as a character that would draw judgement as morally reprehensible in contemporary discourse,” Gunn reflected. “At a party, I would have spotted Peacemaker and thought, ‘Who is that obnoxious jerk over there?’”
Yet, through “Peacemaker,” Gunn delves into profound themes of empathy and understanding that align closely with those explored in “Superman.”
“We inhabit a world where many believe the approach to engaging others with differing views is to demonize them,” remarked Gunn. “What a misguided notion. Aspiring for improvement? Seeking to create a better world? It isn’t achieved by labeling those with opposing perspectives as evil. That’s simply not the way forward.”
WILL AUDIENCES NEED TO WATCH SEASON 2 OF “PEACEMAKER” FOR “MAN OF TOMORROW”?
According to Gunn, it’s not necessary. “I don’t expect audiences to enter ‘Man of Tomorrow’ already knowing about Salvation,” he stated. “Everything essential concerning the disappearance of metahumans will be addressed within that film.”
Nevertheless, Gunn acknowledges the complexities surrounding the construction of a cinematic universe, drawing from his experiences within the MCU through the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films.
“It’s an incredibly delicate balancing act when crafting these narratives,” he noted. “You must narrate in a manner that captivates those familiar with the context while also ensuring that newcomers can grasp critical information without feeling overwhelmed. There needs to be an elegance to the storytelling. Too much convoluted exposition can detract from the emotional core of the narrative. A prison in another dimension is straightforward for me and can be articulated succinctly.”
As “Peacemaker” concludes (for the time being), Gunn will transition focus to several upcoming DC projects where he isn’t the principal creative force, including “Lanterns,” “Supergirl,” “Clayface,” and “The Batman 2.” However, he affirmed that he will continue to write and direct essential DC projects that are foundational to the broader narrative within the DCU, particularly those intertwined with Salvation, Superman, Lex Luthor, and Rick Flag Sr.
“That’s the current plan, at least,” he stated. “I might end up completely exhausted and unable to continue — because I am indeed wearied, but we’ll see!”
