DC Studios Continues Story of Christopher Smith as Canon Questions Linger
DC fans have a big date to mark on their calendars—Peacemaker Season 2 officially arrives on Max on Thursday, August 21, 2025, as confirmed by series creator and DC Studios co-head James Gunn. After months of speculation, Gunn shared the news via a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling the season premiere “one of my favorite things ever.”
Gunn, who penned all eight episodes of the new season, directed a select few this time around due to overlapping production schedules with his other major project, Superman (2025). Despite the demanding workload, Gunn remains closely involved with the second season of Peacemaker, one of the flagship titles shaping the new DC Universe (DCU).
Returning Cast and New Faces Join the Peacemaker Saga
John Cena reprises his role as Christopher Smith, aka Peacemaker, in the upcoming season, continuing the journey of the conflicted anti-hero introduced in 2021’s The Suicide Squad. The returning cast includes:
- Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo
- Freddie Stroma as Vigilante
- Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt
- Steve Agee as John Economos
- Nhut Le as Judomaster
- Robert Patrick as August Smith (White Dragon)
Season 2 will also introduce new characters to the Max original series. Sol Rodríguez joins the cast as Sasha Bordeaux, Brey Noelle appears as DC villain White Rabbit, and Tim Meadows takes on an undisclosed role. In a significant crossover move, Frank Grillo will debut as Rick Flag Sr., a character he previously voiced in the animated series Creature Commandos. Grillo is also set to appear in live-action form in Gunn’s Superman prior to Peacemaker’s return.
Counting the days until Peace on Earth. I just finished the DI & Mix on the Season Premiere yesterday and wow it’s one of my favorite things ever. DC Studios’ #Peacemaker Season 2 coming soon only on @StreamOnMax August 21. pic.twitter.com/df3yOcCsdn
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 7, 2025
A Shift Toward Character-Driven Storytelling
James Gunn teased that Season 2 will dig deeper into the emotional and personal dimensions of its central characters. “It’s more about Chris Smith than it is about Peacemaker,” Gunn told fans during an earlier press event, hinting that the focus will shift from large-scale action to character relationships and development.
This thematic pivot follows a critically praised first season that balanced violent satire with heartfelt moments, establishing Peacemaker as one of DC’s most unique streaming successes.
Peacemaker’s Complicated Role in DCU Continuity
One of the more puzzling aspects of the DC Universe’s soft reboot is how Peacemaker fits into the broader timeline. While Gunn has confirmed that most of Peacemaker Season 1 remains canon, the cameo featuring the Justice League in the finale has been retconned.
The scene included appearances from Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and Ezra Miller’s Flash, with stand-ins representing Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Cyborg. But with David Corenswet now portraying Superman in the DCU and other roles being recast, Gunn clarified in an IGN interview that this Justice League sequence will no longer be considered canon.
Gunn explained: “Almost all of Peacemaker is canon with the exception of the Justice League… which we will kind of deal with in the next season.” These comments have left fans curious about how continuity will be handled moving forward.
Max Strengthens DC Slate With New Releases
Peacemaker Season 2 is part of Max’s growing commitment to original DC content under the new DC Studios banner. With titles like Creature Commandos, Waller, and Lanterns also in development, the platform is poised to become a central hub for DC storytelling as the cinematic universe evolves.
Season 2’s late summer premiere aligns with the platform’s content rollout strategy and is expected to build momentum ahead of larger theatrical events like the release of Superman in December 2025.
Final Thoughts
With a confirmed release date, returning favorites, and new characters set to expand the universe, Peacemaker Season 2 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated DC offerings of 2025. Fans eager for more action, irreverent humor, and emotional depth won’t have to wait long—Christopher Smith returns to Max on August 21.