Convention - SDCC 2025 : Peacemaker Panel Delivers Explosive Season 2 Teases and DCU Revelations

By Mulder, San Diego, Convention Center, Hall H, 26 july 2025

On Saturday, July 26, 2025, the legendary Hall H at the San Diego Convention Center became a crucible of superhero energy as James Gunn walked onto the stage for the Peacemaker Season 2 panel. The moment he appeared, the entire 6,500-seat auditorium rose to its feet, delivering a standing ovation that was as loud as it was heartfelt. This wasn’t just applause for a popular director — it was a welcome for the man who, after reshaping Marvel’s cosmic landscape, is now steering the creative ship of the DC Universe (DCU). His arrival signaled more than just a continuation of a hit show; it was an affirmation that the quirky, foul-mouthed, emotionally damaged antihero at the center of Peacemaker is about to become a lynchpin in the DCU’s unfolding “Gods and Monsters” chapter. Joining Gunn on stage were John Cena, the living embodiment of Chris Smith / Peacemaker, and newcomer Frank Grillo, cast as the formidable Rick Flag Sr., along with other Season 2 talents. The camaraderie was palpable, with Grillo openly admitting that he would follow Gunn into any project, a testament to the kind of loyalty and trust the showrunner inspires — loyalty made even more significant given DC’s often turbulent recent history.

From the outset, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a standard Comic-Con panel. Season 2, set to debut on HBO Max on August 21, picks up one month after the seismic events of Superman. This time, Peacemaker stumbles across a “Quantum Unfolding Chamber” — a gateway to a parallel universe where he is celebrated as the ideal hero he always wished he could be. The discovery plunges him into an existential tug-of-war between the acceptance of this perfect world and the painful rejection he faces in his own. But his journey into the multiverse comes with a cost: a head-on collision with Rick Flag Sr., who is driven by a relentless desire to avenge the death of his son. James Gunn described the storyline as a blend of dark humor, emotional reckoning, and chaotic multiversal action, pushing the character into more mature territory while retaining the absurdist edge that defined the first season. The multiverse here isn’t just a plot device — it’s a character study wrapped in cosmic weirdness, exploring nearly 100 universes within the DCU while also tackling the continuity shift from the DCEU.

One of the biggest talking points in Hall H was the revamped opening credits sequence. The first season’s deadpan, choreography-heavy title sequence became a viral phenomenon, and Gunn promised that the second season would “up the game.” Choreographer Charissa Barton returned to design a bigger, more elaborate dance number featuring new characters, set to the infectious “Oh Lord” by Foxy Shazam. Gunn even hinted that the show’s soundtrack might be his personal favorite across all his projects, name-dropping a contribution from Ozzy Osbourne. For fans who view Peacemaker as a gleeful mashup of rock ‘n’ roll attitude and irreverent superhero antics, this was confirmation that Season 2 will double down on its signature style.

Beyond John Cena’s return as Chris Smith, the cast list reads like a crossover event in itself. Returning faces include Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Adrian Chase / Vigilante, Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt, Steve Agee as John Economos, Robert Patrick as the ghostly presence of Auggie Smith / White Dragon, and Nhut Le as Judomaster, who Gunn teased will have an expanded role this season. Joining them are Sol Rodríguez as Sasha Bordeaux, David Denman, Tim Meadows as Langston Fleury, and Michael Rooker as Red St. Wild — a villain Gunn cheekily dubbed “the Lex Luthor of Eagly,” a nod to Peacemaker’s beloved pet eagle. Tying the season more deeply into the DCU are cameos from Superman cast members, including Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner / Green Lantern, and Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord. The interconnectedness is deliberate — a signal that Peacemaker is no longer an offbeat side story, but a vital artery in the DCU’s beating heart.

The path to this season was anything but straightforward. Initially ordered back in February 2022, the show’s production was delayed when James Gunn took on co-CEO duties at DC Studios alongside Peter Safran and shifted focus to Superman. The spin-off series Waller was set to go first, but the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes reshuffled the deck, bringing Peacemaker back to the front of the production slate. Filming began in April 2024, with Gunn balancing directorial duties on Peacemaker with the simultaneous shoot for Superman at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. To keep things moving, Gunn directed three key episodes, handing the reins of others to Greg Mottola, Peter Sollett, and Alethea Jones. The shoot ran from June to November 2024, with cinematographer Sam McCurdy capturing the show’s distinctive mix of comic-book vibrancy and gritty realism.

When the discussion turned to character arcs, Gunn emphasized that Season 2 is “more about Chris Smith than Peacemaker,” diving into his relationships and the personal consequences of his choices. John Cena echoed that sentiment, noting that the emotional demands of the season are as intense as its action sequences. And action there will be: from chaotic multiversal confrontations to sequences that test the limits of Peacemaker’s already battered sense of self-worth, the season aims to deliver moments that are as gutting as they are ridiculous. Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. promises to be a major new presence, serving as both a thematic and physical challenge to the title character.

Perhaps the most memorable part of the panel was the palpable sense of unity between creators and fans. When James Gunn spoke about the creative freedom HBO Max and DC Studios gave him, the room buzzed with the understanding that this was not a project made by committee — it was crafted with a singular vision. It’s rare for a superhero property to embrace both the absurdity of the genre and the raw vulnerability of its characters, but Peacemaker has always walked that tightrope with swagger. In Season 2, the stakes are higher, the jokes sharper, the emotions deeper, and the DCU connections more intricate.

As Hall H emptied into the sunlit San Diego afternoon, the excitement was undeniable. Fans left clutching exclusive panel photos and memories of seeing John Cena, James Gunn, and the ensemble cast share their enthusiasm without a hint of corporate gloss. For those who have followed Peacemaker’s journey from The Suicide Squad to his own breakout series, this season feels like a culmination — and a bold step forward. In a DCU juggling reboots, multiverses, and a new creative hierarchy, Peacemaker stands out as the unpredictable, unapologetically human story that could very well redefine what superhero television can be. And judging by the roar in Hall H, audiences are more than ready to follow Chris Smith through every twisted, hilarious, and heartbreaking turn of the multiverse.

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Synopsis :
In Season 2, Peacemaker (Chris Smith) finds himself navigating a soft reboot into the new DC Universe (DCU), as he grapples with the fallout from Superman and seeks to rewrite his destiny through an alternate reality accessed via a Quantum Unfolding Chamber or Pocket Universe  . This collision of worlds sends him face‑to‑face with a multiversal version of himself while also putting him at odds with Rick Flag Sr., hell‑bent on avenging his son’s death . As he stumbles through dimensions, Peacemaker must confront his traumatic past, earn a place among metahumans who dismiss him as a joke, and redefine what peace truly means—even if that means battling a version of himself . The season blends dark superhero action, razor‑sharp humor, emotional growth, DCU cameos (including Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, Maxwell Lord), and a shapeshifting continuity that sets up the future of the DC Universe…

Peacemaker
Created by James Gunn
Based on Characters from DC
Showrunner James Gunn
Written by James Gunn
Starring  John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Robert Patrick, Frank Grillo, Sol Rodríguez, David Denman, Tim Meadows, Michael Rooker
Opening theme  : "Do Ya Wanna Taste It" by Wig Wam (season 1)
Executive producers : Matt Miller, Peter Safran, James Gunn
Producers : Lars Winther, John H. Starke, John Rickard
Cinematography : Michael Bonvillain, Sam McCurdy, Michael Wale
Editors : Fred Raskin, Todd Busch, Greg D'Auria, Gregg Featherman
Production companies : The Safran Company, Troll Court Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television, DC Studios (S2)
Network : HBO Max
Release January  : 13, 2022 – present
Running time     39–47 minutes

Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville