DC Studios made a major return to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, stepping into Marvel’s usual Saturday spotlight with the official unveiling of Peacemaker Season 2. Creator and DC Studios co-head James Gunn, joined by series star John Cena and cast members, premiered the highly anticipated new trailer for the series’ sophomore season, set to debut August 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO Max.
Set one month after the events of Gunn’s recently released Superman film, Season 2 continues Christopher Smith’s wild journey as he navigates grief, guilt, and a multiversal identity crisis. In the new trailer, Cena’s Peacemaker stumbles upon a seemingly perfect parallel universe — one where he’s got everything he wants, including a romantic reunion with Jennifer Holland’s Harcourt. The twist? That version of Peacemaker already exists… and Cena’s Smith is ready to replace him.
Meanwhile, back in the main reality, Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. has a score to settle, holding Peacemaker responsible for the death of his son (Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag Jr.) in The Suicide Squad. Flag Sr. sets out to shut the portal between worlds and confront Smith face-to-face.
Gunn teased that Season 2 is deeply connected to the larger DCU and will expand on key elements introduced in Superman, including the Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC), a mysterious piece of technology that becomes central to the season’s storyline. “He’s dealing with the demons from the first season, and the world still doesn’t accept him as a hero,” Gunn said during the panel. “He thinks he’s found a better universe — that’s the beginning of the story and it goes from there.”
In addition to exploring alternate dimensions, Peacemaker Season 2 introduces new DCU characters from Superman, including Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), who appear in a scene where they interview Peacemaker for a potential spot on the Justice League.
Returning cast members include:
- Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo (who is also Amanda Waller’s daughter)
- Freddie Stroma as Vigilante
- Jennifer Holland as Harcourt
- Steve Agee as Economos
New faces this season include Sol Rodriguez and Tim Meadows. While Brooks was unable to attend the SDCC panel due to illness, Cena appeared in full costume and kept the crowd energized — even joking about avoiding the same stomach bug Gunn had caught earlier in the week.
Gunn, who also executive produces alongside Peter Safran and Cena, wrote all eight episodes of the upcoming season and directed three, including the premiere. Other directors this season include Greg Mottola, Peter Sollett, and Althea Jones.
To cap off the Hall H presentation, DC Studios hosted a “Peacefest” featuring live music performances by bands Foxy Shazam and Steel Panther, both of whom will appear in the new season.
The first season of Peacemaker debuted in 2022 and became a breakout hit, praised for its irreverent humor, unexpected emotional depth, and Cena’s standout performance. It ended with Chris Smith grappling with his actions and the haunting presence of his father’s ghost (Robert Patrick), who seems poised to return in a twisted mentor role akin to a dark Obi-Wan Kenobi in Season 2.
With Peacemaker now firmly planted in the DCU timeline, Gunn confirmed the series is a pivotal piece of his evolving DC Universe. While it carries over legacy characters from the DCEU, it firmly embraces the multiverse potential — with this new season promising dual Cenas, interdimensional chaos, and a deeper look at what it truly means to be a hero in Gunn’s DC world.
Peacemaker Season 2 premieres August 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO Max.