**Spoilers for “The Suicide Squad” below. But let’s be real, if you haven’t seen it by now, you’re probably not going to be terribly upset by spoilers, right? You’ve been warned.**
Before the epic third act battle against Starro in “The Suicide Squad,” the emotional high-point is probably the final duel between Peacemaker and Bloodsport. For the entire film, these two men have been trying to outgun each other, figuratively and literally. And it all culminates in what is seemingly John Cena’s Peacemaker dying after the “smaller bullet” fight with Idris Elba’s character. But if you stuck around through the post-credits scene, you know that wasn’t the case. Peacemaker’s death was a fake-out. And now the character returns for a TV series in 2022.
READ MORE: James Gunn Will Be Back For More DC Films Says WB Exec: “We Have More Planned”
Speaking to EW, “The Suicide Squad” writer-director (and “Peacemaker” writer-director) James Gunn explained that he understands why people might be upset over the fake death of the morally ambiguous character. In fact, he hates that commonly abused film trope. But he did it anyway so that people could have a glorious TV series.
“I did exactly the thing I hate when other filmmakers do [it],” said the filmmaker. “But I did it! I’ll have to live with the repercussions, which is the most incredible TV show people will ever see.”
Now, in January, “Peacemaker” arrives on HBO Max, with Cena’s resurrected character teaming up with Task Force X support team characters, Harcourt and Economos (played by Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee, respectively), for a new Black Ops adventure with world-ending stakes. And in the new image from the series, you get a glimpse at the whole team that also includes Chukwudi Iwuji as group leader Murn, Danielle Brooks as Adebayo, and Freddie Stroma as Vigilante (a C-list DC superhero).
The filmmaker is so high on the “Peacemaker” TV series that he’s already excited about the possibility of doing Season 2.
“I would like to do a Season 2,” he said. “They just have to tell me that they want to do it.”
“Peacemaker” is set to arrive on HBO Max in January. You can see the new picture from the series below:
