Peacemaker Season 2 Shocker: The Truth Behind That Dead Character’s Return!

Attention: Major spoilers ahead for the opening episode of Peacemaker, Season 2!

Peacemaker: Season 2 takes the protagonist, Chris Smith (played by John Cena), into an alternate universe where fate has been more kind to him. In this universe, Peacemaker is not just a lone hero but part of a beloved superhero team, The Top Trio, which includes his father Auggie (Robert Patrick) and his brother Kevin (David Denman), both of whom are deceased in Chris’ original world.

In this reality, the Smith family is wealthy and close-knit, with Chris enjoying a harmonious and loving relationship with his father, and without the tragic accident of his childhood where he accidentally killed his friend Keith. Chris himself acknowledges this reality as the “Best. Dimension. Ever.”

However, our main Chris faces moral dilemmas after he accidentally kills his alternate self in the season premiere, then decides to take over his life, immersing himself into a world he wishes was his own.

I had the opportunity to speak with actor David Denman (Brightburn, The Office) about his role as this universe’s Keith Smith and how his character’s presence throughout Chris’ life shaped this version of Peacemaker. (This interview has been edited for clarity.)

David Denman: This Chris, in the alternate universe, definitely has his own set of problems. He tends to overindulge and lacks a sense of responsibility. Keith steps in as the protective big brother, constantly trying to steer him right, which is quite the role reversal considering their situations in the other universe.

Here, we are viewed as heroes, which contrasts sharply with the reality Chris is used to. When the real-world Chris enters our dimension, he’s quite out of place, saying things that make us question his behavior, but without context, it’s hard for Keith to discern what’s truly going on.

Denman: Absolutely. James [Gunn, the writer-showrunner] explores these dynamics deeply. The trauma that Peacemaker experienced in Season 1, stemming from his grief over losing Keith and living with their abusive father, raises questions about what might have been different if Keith had lived. Could Keith have protected Chris from their father’s influence, or would Chris have ended up mirroring his father’s traits? It’s intriguing but unresolved since we don’t see Keith beyond his childhood in the original universe.

In this new universe, it’s clear from the start that our circumstances have significantly shifted. We are celebrated and respected as heroes by our community.

Denman: No way. That kid from Brightburn is way too dangerous with those laser beams for eyes. I guess my helmet might offer some protection, but honestly, who knows?

For additional insights into the DC Universe, check out our spoiler-free Peacemaker: Season 2 review, discover what James Gunn revealed about the retconning of Season 1’s Justice League cameo in Peacemaker Season 2, and explore our comprehensive ranking of every live-action DC television series.