Peacemaker season 2: Release date and everything we know so far about James Gunn's returning DC series

Peacemaker season 2 is only a few weeks away, and there's a lot to be excited about already. Not only is this the next DC project following the new Superman movie, but we recently received a new trailer at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 to dig into, and showrunner James Gunn has teased that there's a "really, really big" cameo on the way...

Gunn has also said that the series about John Cena's muscle-bound and very morally questionable "hero" is one of his favorite things he's worked on, making the hype for the upcoming show increase tenfold. However, like with any new DC project, there is still a lot of confusion regarding timelines and whether or not Peacemaker falls within Gunn's DCU Chapter One plans or if it exists in its own universe (similar to The Batman). Well, we are here to help.

Below, we've gathered all the information that you need to know about one of the best upcoming DC TV shows. From the Peacemaker release date, trailer, cast, and more, you'll be ready for that sweet taste of forced freedom once again in no time!

Peacemaker season 2 release date

Peacemaker season 2 will be released on August 21, 2025.

This makes it the third DCU project and the second live-action DCU project to release, after Superman arrives on July 11, 2025. We also know that Peacemaker season 2 will feature eight episodes, just like season 1.

Peacemaker season 1 was first released in January 2022, and it was renewed pretty soon after in February. However, filming didn't take place until much later in April to November 2024. Part of the delay was down to a new series called Waller being announced, which was due to arrive before Peacemaker season 2. This release schedule was later rethought by Gunn.

Peacemaker season 2 trailer

Peacemaker Season 2 | Official Trailer | HBO Max - YouTube

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The latest Peacemaker season 2 trailer was shown during San Diego Comic-Con 2025, and (like the previous trailer) it features a multiversal twist. It also reveals that the plot will focus on Rick Flagg Sr. hunting down Peacemaker for killing his son in The Suicide Squad.

The first look at Peacemaker season 2 came in Max's upcoming show preview, which saw the team reuniting. "No matter how far we are from each other," John Cena's antihero said. "No one will ever break us apart." It also contained a few shots of Emilia Harcourt and Peacemaker looking bruised and bloody, as well as our first look at Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr. in live-action. Watch it below.

Peacemaker season 2 cast

Plenty of the season 1 cast are coming back for Peacemaker season 2, which will be led once again by John Cena's antihero. However, they'll also be joined by a whole host of new faces.

Currently, it's unclear if any other DCU faces will make an appearance. We may see some Superman references since the new movie is out before the show. Or some future DCU characters who are lined up for their own series may get introduced, such as Booster Gold of the Green Lanterns. We'll keep you posted as more news heads our way.

In the meantime, here is the Peacemaker season 2 cast list so far:

• John Cena as Christopher Smith / Peacemaker
• Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo
• Freddie Stroma as Adrian Chase / Vigilante
• Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt
• Steve Agee as John Economos
• Robert Patrick as August 'Auggie' Smith / White Dragon
• Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.
• Sol Rodríguez as Sasha Bordeaux
• Tim Meadows as Langston Fleury
• Nhut Le as Judomaster
• Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl
• Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
• Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord

As well as the confirmed cast, Taylor St. Clair, Dorian Kingi, David Denman, Anissa Matlock, and Brandon Stanley are also joining in undisclosed roles. Oh, and of course, Eagly will also return. We'd expect that Viola Davis' puppetmaster – and Leota Adebayo's mom – Amanda Waller will also make an appearance at some point too.

Peacemaker season 2 plot speculation

Thanks to all the trailers, we know that the plot will revolve around Rick Flagg Sr. going after Peacemaker for revenge, after Peacemaker killed his son back in The Suicide Squad. We also know that Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, and Maxwell Lord will be making appearances.

Beyond that, we also now know that Peacemaker has a portal that lets him travel to other dimensions. The latest trailer shows him meeting another version of himself and seemingly liking his other life. We're sure that will cause some future conflicts, and we may even see a Peacemaker versus Peacemaker fight in the future as well. We do have some idea of where things may kick off, as James Gunn has shared a few details too. Firstly, we know that Peacemaker season 2 will take place after the events of Superman as Gunn confirmed on Threads. Therefore, we expect some of the big events in that movie to be referenced in the show's second season.

However, the show also takes place after the events of season 1 as well. "It essentially picks up where season 1 left off," Gunn also revealed on Threads. Given it's been a while, let's recap exactly what happened at the end of Peacemaker's first season. Much of the finale saw Peacemaker and the team dealing with the threat of the Butterflies and their group leader, Clemson Murn, killed. In the battle, Emilia Harcourt, John Economos, and Vigilante were all pretty badly injured, but on their way to mending by the end of the season.

There were a few unresolved teases set up at the end of the show too, including Peacemaker's White Dragon father appearing to him in a vision beyond the grave. Creepy. Meanwhile, Leota Adebayo exposed her mother, Amanda Waller's, involvement in Task Force X and Project Butterfly to the press as well. Expect some fallout there.

We can also expect some crossover with Superman, according to Gunn – including a major cameo. "We see a lot of different characters from Superman in the [season], [including] Isabela and Nathan and Sean, and then we see a bunch of other characters later on in the season from other parts of the DCU and from Superman," he teased. "There might even be one really, really, really big cameo near the end of the show."

Is Peacemaker canon to the DCU?

Yes, Peacemaker is officially canon to the DCU. But it's complicated. Peacemaker season 1 took place in the DCEU, which is where John Cena's version of Peacemaker first originated (in The Suicide Squad). Season 1 also made several references to the DCEU that was, including having a very tongue-in-cheek set of Justice League cameos in its finale.

However, Peacemaker season 2 is set in the new DCU, and given that it takes place after Superman and brings in a Creature Commandos character in Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr., season 1 is seemingly operating in an odd narrative limbo. James Gunn even almost said as much himself, describing the slightly confusing continuity in an interview with IGN.

"Now in Creature Commandos, you'll hear them talk about things that happened in [The] Suicide Squad or Peacemaker. Well then, those things automatically become canon," Gunn told the publication. "The truth is almost all of Peacemaker is canon with the exception of Justice League… which we will kind of deal with in the next season of Peacemaker."

To make things even more confusing, Gunn said on Threads, that "many strands [from Peacemaker season 1] will remain consistent… insofar as Peacemaker’s story goes."

For more on the DCU, check out our guides to everything we know about Supergirl and Creature Commandos season 2.