If there’s one thing fans can count on from John Cena, it’s his willingness to commit to a role—body, mind, and often wardrobe. It’s no surprise, then, that when he showed up at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26, he did so in full Peacemaker attire, helmet and all, much to the delight of the gathered crowd. This wasn’t a mere promotional stunt—it was a testament to Cena’s all-in spirit and the love he clearly has for the character that’s become one of his defining roles in the post-wrestling chapter of his career.
“This is where we’re supposed to do this,” Cena told fans during the Season 2 panel for Peacemaker. “I had to borrow this again. This one is not mine. This is a rental.” And with that line, delivered with a wink and his trademark charisma, he had Hall H in stitches. Ever the showman, Cena’s enthusiasm wasn’t just an act; it was a genuine reflection of his ongoing relationship with a character who has evolved from a violent punchline in The Suicide Squad to a surprisingly layered antihero in his own series.
Cena even joked that he was ready to paint the town red with the countless other Peacemakers in cosplay roaming Comic-Con, proclaiming, “There’s not enough hot sauce in this city to contain us.” That might sound like Cena being Cena, but there’s a deeper sense of pride and ownership in his voice now. He’s not just playing Peacemaker—he is Peacemaker.
The second season of the HBO Max original, set to drop on August 21, promises to pick up where Season 1 left off, but with even more chaos, character development, and now, deep integration into James Gunn’s newly-revamped DC Universe. That’s no small feat considering Gunn’s recent successes, including his Superman reboot, which has helped solidify his creative control and narrative vision across the DCU.
When Gunn took the stage to join Cena, the crowd responded with a standing ovation. And deservedly so. His stewardship of Peacemaker has turned what could have been a one-note character into one of the most compelling figures in DC’s vast landscape. Gunn, in his usual candid and playful manner, expressed just how close to his heart the series is, calling Peacemaker his “favorite thing in the world.”
During the panel, Gunn unveiled the trailer for the new season, which shows Cena’s Chris Smith discovering an interdimensional portal in his home. On the other side is a parallel Earth where Peacemaker isn’t an outcast, but a celebrated hero. In a series that never shies away from absurdity, this narrative twist still carries a surprisingly poignant theme. “Peacemaker is going through a rough patch in life and thinks the grass might be greener on the other side,” Cena explained. “That’s something people can relate to.”
It’s a thread that cuts deeper than viewers might expect. The character of Peacemaker was introduced to the DC Universe as a brash, arrogant, and wildly violent soldier who would “kill every man, woman, and child to keep the peace.” But as the series has unfolded, so too has the tortured humanity underneath that facade. Season 1 ended with Chris grappling with the trauma of his childhood, the weight of his actions, and the isolation that follows when the world sees you as a villain.
Gunn was quick to emphasize that Peacemaker is not interested in hitting the reset button every season. “I like when characters just don’t return the same,” he said. “There’s growth and regressions.” It’s a mature approach to serialized storytelling, one that acknowledges the messiness of human change. After all, real people don’t just evolve in a straight line—and neither do antiheroes like Chris Smith.
The connective tissue between Peacemaker and the wider DCU is becoming more apparent this season. The first episode is set one month after the events of Superman and brings in several other notable characters from across the universe. Guy Gardner, portrayed by Nathan Fillion, and Hawkgirl, played by Isabela Merced, both make appearances, as does Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord. These crossovers aren’t just fan service; they’re clear markers that Peacemaker is no longer a side project—it’s central to Gunn’s vision of a united, character-rich DCU.
But where there are alliances, there must also be enemies, and Peacemaker Season 2 delivers in the form of Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. A holdover from Gunn’s Superman film, Flag Sr. is now the head of A.R.G.U.S., the shadowy federal agency that handles metahumans. He’s also on a very personal mission: revenge. Fans will remember that Peacemaker killed his son, Rick Flag Jr., during the events of The Suicide Squad, a decision that still haunts Chris—and enrages Rick Sr. “He’s now in a position to finally get his hands on Peacemaker,” Grillo said ominously.
That vendetta sets the stage for what promises to be an intense and emotionally charged season. But in classic Peacemaker fashion, it wouldn’t be complete without a heavy dose of humor, absurdity, and, of course, dance numbers.
Yes, the iconic opening credits from Season 1—featuring the entire cast performing a hilariously deadpan routine to Wig Wam’s “Do Ya Wanna Taste It”—was such a hit that it’s getting a spiritual successor in Season 2. Gunn confirmed that a new number has been choreographed with a new song, fresh moves, and a few surprises. “It’s got new personalities and new vibes,” he teased.
Grillo, despite his action-heavy résumé, was more reluctant about the whole dancing idea. “When I showed up, people thought it’d be funny to plant my face on T-shirts from when I was on a soap opera,” he quipped. “Dancing was something I very reluctantly did but turned into me being the best dancer on stage.” Meanwhile, Jennifer Holland (Emilia Harcourt) was thrilled to perform the lift from Dirty Dancing, calling it “amazing.”
Even as the show gets zanier, the cast seems fully committed to the creative chaos that Gunn orchestrates. Steve Agee, who returns as John Economos, revealed that one scene in the first episode of the new season pushed the boundaries even further. “It’s a very sexual situation,” he said, “and it’s insane we’re showing it on cable.”
And what would Peacemaker be without a cool new ride? Cena’s Chris Smith will be seen atop a new “Peace cycle,” a souped-up motorcycle that’s as over-the-top as the character himself. “It’s a lumbering piece of machinery,” Cena said. “It’s got torpedoes, speakers and a cool paint job.” A perfect accessory for a man whose idea of subtlety involves blowing things up with patriotically themed weapons.
Of course, the panel wouldn’t have been complete without a little inside baseball. Cena revealed that Gunn “hates” the endless “You can’t see me” jokes that follow Cena from his WWE days. But that didn’t stop Cena from leaning into it. “I love them. Nobody is next to James Gunn, it’s just a floating helmet!” he joked, holding his iconic headgear beside Gunn as the director sighed with mock exasperation.
But even amid all the laughs, Gunn took a moment to get serious about his leading man. “For one of the most famous people in the world, he has no ego,” Gunn said. “He gets very silly when he’s on stage, but the truth is, John Cena turns in an amazing performance this season. I couldn’t believe what he was capable of and how much he’s grown as an actor in two years. It’s really something to see.”
And that’s perhaps the most surprising thing about Peacemaker as a whole. Beneath the blood, the jokes, and the musical numbers lies a story about redemption, identity, and the struggle to be accepted. It’s a show that wears its heart on its sleeve—sometimes quite literally—and it has found the perfect actor in Cena to carry that complicated message.
In an age where superhero properties often struggle to differentiate themselves, Peacemaker stands apart not because it tries to be different, but because it dares to be ridiculous, real, and raw all at once. It’s a show that understands the absurdity of its premise and leans into it, while still managing to say something meaningful about what it means to be human—even when you’re a musclebound vigilante with a toilet seat for a helmet.
As the panel wrapped, there was no doubt left in anyone’s mind—Peacemaker Season 2 is going to be bigger, weirder, and somehow even more heartfelt than before. And if John Cena has anything to say about it, it’ll also be the wildest ride the DC Universe has to offer.
Mark your calendars. The world may still be figuring out what kind of hero Peacemaker really is—but come August 21, he’s definitely the one to watch.
