The Peacemaker himself cannot believe his own success. Image courtesy of JoBlo.

HARRISON PRYOR | STAFF REPORTER | hrpryor@butler.edu 

In 2021, James Gunn wrote and directed “The Suicide Squad”, and it was praised as everything David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad” in 2016 should have been. Now, Gunn is the co-CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran and has spearheaded the new DC Universe (DCU)’s first three projects.

The second season of “Peacemaker” is the DCU’s latest installment, and it is nowhere near the wholesome hope-fest that “Superman” was — “Peacemaker” has a hard TV-MA rating with the nudity, language and gore to prove it. The show also did not pull punches with its world-building. The concept of the multiverse is not only introduced incredibly early, but serves as a focal point for the plot.

Katie Baumgartner, a junior environmental studies and computer science double major, appreciates Gunn’s ability to bring more obscure characters into the limelight.

“DC doesn’t have many outrageously popular characters — there are just a [few] main ones,” Baumgartner said. “Bringing in side characters like Peacemaker and other more obscure superheroes is a really good idea, because it helps expand [the world].”

Though “Superman” acted as the DCU’s theatrical debut, Gunn’s new superhero franchise started quieter with “Creature Commandos”, an animated show on HBO Max. “Creature Commandos” is essentially a third Suicide Squad installment, as it follows a group of misfit monsters working for the government to earn time off their prison sentences. Between this, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Peacemaker”, Gunn’s love for found families and hopeful stories is apparent.

Gunn’s self-referential approach has raised questions about what is considered canon to the DCU. Fans are eager to know how much of the original DC Extended Universe — often referred to as the Snyderverse after “Man of Steel” director Zack Snyder — is part of the new timeline. 

First-year journalism major Natalia Collazo expressed that starting completely fresh and ignoring the Snyderverse would only have made the DCU more confusing.

“Starting to read comics is kind of messy,” Collazo said. “There isn’t an exact ‘start here, end here’ thing — you just jump in the middle and go about it. For movie adaptations [as well], it’s difficult sometimes to know where to start. If [Gunn] already has some of Snyder’s work, he can integrate that into his universe pretty smoothly. It makes his job a little easier, and it gives the viewers some continuity.”

Gunn has confirmed through various outlets that certain parts of the Snyderverse are also part of the new timeline, though they are mostly his own projects. The “Peacemaker” recap at the top of the second season showed that the entirety of the first one happened in the DCU, except that the Justice League’s cameo at the very end was replaced by the Justice Gang, David Corenswet’s Superman and Milly Alcock’s Supergirl. 

Does this mean that all of the dialogue in the first season applies to the DCU? The titular character — portrayed by John Cena — directly mentions specific events of “The Suicide Squad”, such as his duel with Bloodsport — portrayed by Idris Elba. 

The second season does confirm that at least the basic plot of “The Suicide Squad” happened; a task force of criminals was deployed to the fictional country of Corto Maltese and fought Starro the Conqueror, and Peacemaker killed Rick Flag, Jr. — portrayed by Joel Kinnaman. However, it is unclear if the DCU’s version of events had the same team or if those characters will be played by the same people.

Looking forward, the DCU is set to have a series of Chapters similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phases. Chapter One: Gods and Monsters is set to, among other things, introduce DC’s main trinity of heroes: Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman, the latter of which is already well-established.

Junior criminology-psychology major Savannah Sacino hopes Robert Pattinson of “The Batman” will become the DCU’s Dark Knight.

“I’m really sad [and] don’t think that [will] be the case, but I think that [Pattinson’s] Batman and the new Superman would go really well together,” Sacino said. “I think it’s perfect having a super dark, gritty detective Batman with a super bright and happy Superman. Both [versions] are pretty true to the comics, and I just love ‘The Batman’, so I would love for that to be in the DCU.” 

Gunn and “The Batman” writer-director Matt Reeves have vehemently denied that Pattinson’s Batman will appear in the DCU. Though some have speculated that “Clayface” — the body horror movie releasing in 2026 — would connect the DCU and “The Batman”, the film seems firmly set only in the DCU. The best fans can hope for is a multiversal crossover.

Collazo expressed that the divergence of genres and tones across “Superman”, “Peacemaker” and “Clayface” is healthy for a burgeoning franchise.

“Superhero movies [should not be] a genre, and right now they are,” Collazo said. “There can be stories about heroes that dive into different themes and that are unique. [The DCU] should be a collection of movies that are so vastly different but connected through the core of DC. [‘Clayface’] won’t just be another superhero movie, it will be a [horror] movie about — in this case — a supervillain.”

There is a lot in store for Gunn’s DCU, and Chapter One has only just begun. Gunn remains vigilant in keeping fans informed on social media while holding his cards close to his chest, never revealing more than he wishes. There is no telling just what he has planned or just how expansive his world will be.

“Peacemaker” is available to stream on HBO Max.