DCU Chief James Gunn Reacts to Peacemaker Criticism: Admits Not Everyone Can Love Everything!

James Gunn has responded to some of the negative feedback regarding the season finale of Peacemaker Season 2, specifically addressing concerns that left fans feeling let down.

Caution! This contains spoilers for the conclusion of Peacemaker Season 2:

The second season of Peacemaker concluded its eight-episode streak on HBO Max, marking a pivotal moment in the saga of Christopher Smith, played by John Cena. DC Studios co-CEO Gunn hinted that the finale would set the stage for his upcoming Superman project, the 2027 film Man of Tomorrow. The episode notably teased which character might become the mutual adversary for Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor and David Corenswet’s Superman.

The finale also introduced Checkmate and the planet Salvation (details of which are elaborated in our Peacemaker Season 2 ending breakdown). Despite these introductions, some viewers expressed dissatisfaction with the finale, deeming it an anticlimactic wrap-up to the series’ narrative. The season ends on a cliffhanger for Peacemaker, and with Gunn dismissing the possibility of a third season for now, viewers are concerned about the resolution of the storyline.

Earlier this week, Gunn was actively engaging with fans on Threads, fielding questions about Peacemaker and the broader DC Universe (DCU). He was asked if he had noticed the critiques about the show and its finale.

“Absolutely!” Gunn acknowledged. “It’s impossible for something to be universally loved. I really like the episode, but I completely understand that not everyone feels the same, which is totally valid.”

While his initial response was somewhat general, Gunn provided more details in response to another fan who had expected a major reveal in the finale, and questioned if Langston Fleury, the ex-A.R.G.U.S. agent who joins the Checkmate agency with the 11th Street Kids, was the DCU’s Martian Manhunter.

“He is not, but I’m surprised people don’t see the significant reveals here, including Checkmate and Salvation,” Gunn asserted.

In this reply, he used the Checkmate and Salvation reveals to counter the criticism regarding the lack of major surprises in the finale. The episode features Chris and his team forming their own peacekeeping agency called Checkmate, marking its first appearance in the DCU.

Salvation, on the other hand, is a major reveal. This distant planet was first introduced in 2007’s comic Salvation Run, which originated from a story pitch by George R.R. Martin. In the comics, Salvation plays a central role in a scheme to purge Earth of metahumans, setting it up for a similar function in the DCU as portrayed in Peacemaker.

Reactions to Gunn’s comments have been mixed. “The issue seems to be that only Gunn knows the direction this is heading,” commented Eugene_Dav on Reddit. “It might be something exciting, but at the moment it just feels like, ‘Okay, another government prison’ and ‘Great, the 11th Street Kids have another show.’ Even for those familiar with the comic books, it’s not clear what this means for the DCU. We lack sufficient information, and Checkmate might become just another trivial sitcom or a significant entity that influences the plot. I appreciate Gunn’s narrative of a clash between government, corporations, and metahumans, yet it feels like the overarching story is still unfolding. We have to wait.”

Nevertheless, some enthusiasts argue that the emergence of Salvation should be seen as a significant reveal, suggesting that the prison planet’s role hints at the broader direction of the DCU.

“It essentially indicates the comic series that this entire phase is based on, thereby giving us a clearer picture of what this inaugural phase of the DCU is truly about,” noted TrueBlue2088. “This is major…”

In September, Gunn emphasized the significance of Peacemaker Season 2 to the overall DCU, describing it as a “prequel” to the newly announced Man of Tomorrow. Furthermore, he stated that Peacemaker Season 2 “directly” contributes to the buildup towards Man of Tomorrow.

This assertion from Gunn was interesting, especially since 2026 will see the releases of Supergirl, Lanterns, and Clayface, all part of the ongoing DCU, well before Man of Tomorrow in 2027. This wasn’t the first time Gunn highlighted the central role of Peacemaker Season 2 in the overarching narrative, with appearances from Justice Gang members who were featured in July’s DCU kickstarter Superman and a significant cameo later in the season.

Some argue that Checkmate and Salvation are too niche to be considered major reveals, potentially leaving casual DC fans more puzzled than thrilled. “Checkmate isn’t exactly a well-known or beloved entity within the DC comics,” mentioned poison-harley. “If it was leading to something mainstream with an established fanbase, then it would generate excitement.”

“It’s an interesting nod for sure… But unless you’re a huge comic book enthusiast, it’s hard to grasp the significance,” suggested isIwhoKilledTrevor.

Questions remain about Peacemaker’s future, especially since there’s no confirmation of Peacemaker Season 3. Gunn has stated that the conclusion of Season 2 positions Peacemaker to play a more expansive role in the DCU moving forward.

“He’s very important to me,” Gunn remarked about the character. “Peacemaker is a crucial character. From the start, when we undertook this project, it was about elevating and redefining the iconic DC properties like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman, and also transforming less prominent characters like Peacemaker into significant figures.”

The next logical question is whether Peacemaker will make an appearance in the 2026 DCU film Supergirl or 2027’s Man of Tomorrow.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Gunn teased. “That remains a secret!”