#Peacemaker
Peacemaker, the HBO Max spinoff of The Suicide Squad created by James Gunn, premiered January 13, 2022, and became DC’s first true streaming hit.
The Show
John Cena reprised his role as Christopher Smith/Peacemaker, a violent vigilante with a hilariously toxic combination of patriotism, daddy issues, and obliviousness. The eight-episode series follows Peacemaker’s Task Force X mission to eliminate “butterflies”—alien parasites possessing humans.
The show balanced irreverent humor (Eagly the pet eagle, absurd action sequences) with surprising emotional depth—exploring Peacemaker’s abusive childhood, racism, and path to redemption. Danielle Brooks (Leota Adebayo) and Chukwudi Iwuji (Clemson Murn) delivered standout performances.
Cultural Impact
The opening title sequence—Peacemaker and his team performing a synchronized dance to Wig Wam’s “Do You Wanna Taste It”—became iconic. Celebrities recreated it; the song charted on Spotify.
James Gunn’s signature blend of humor, heart, and gore (exploding heads, graphic violence) worked perfectly in episodic format. The show proved superhero TV could be R-rated, character-driven, and genuinely funny without sacrificing stakes.
Episode 8’s surprise Justice League cameo (Aquaman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Superman—played by body doubles) trolling Peacemaker became meme gold.
Reception & Season 2
Critics loved it (94% Rotten Tomatoes), praising Cena’s range and Gunn’s vision. It became HBO Max’s most-watched original series premiere.
Season 2 was quickly renewed but delayed due to Gunn’s promotion to DC Studios co-CEO. Production began in 2024, with a 2025 release planned.