The second season of Peacemaker concluded with a finale that dramatically reshapes the future of the DC Universe, directly tying the story into the upcoming Superman: Man of Tomorrow film. Following a behind-the-scenes photo shared by director James Gunn, the episode confirmed a major partnership between Lex Luthor and Rick Flag Sr., ending on a cliffhanger that leaves Peacemaker in a dangerous new world.
The Finale’s Major Twist
In the final episode, titled “Full Nelson,” the story takes a dark turn for Chris Smith, aka Peacemaker. After he reconciles with his team, the 11th Street Kids, and officially starts a relationship with Harcourt, he is kidnapped by A.R.G.U.S. agents working for Rick Flag Sr. In an act of revenge for the death of his son, Flag sends Peacemaker through the Quantum Unfolding Chamber to a prison planet called Salvation. The episode ends with Peacemaker stranded and hearing monstrous roars in the distance.
This prison planet is a key part of Flag and Lex Luthor’s plan, which was set in motion earlier in the season. The goal of Salvation is to become a permanent, inescapable prison for Earth’s metahumans. James Gunn described the plan on the show’s official podcast, stating the characters essentially decide, “We’re going to send them off to this planet where they can’t get off.” He confirmed that “this is where we’re sort of beginning our part of our larger story in the DCU.”
Lex Luthor’s Role and the New Partnership
The partnership between the government and the villainous Lex Luthor is a central development. In episode 6, Rick Flag Sr. visited Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, in Belle Reve prison to secure his help in locating Peacemaker. In exchange, Luthor negotiated for a transfer to a prison without metahumans.
This alliance is more than a simple deal; it has significant implications for the entire DCU. James Gunn explained the importance of this relationship, noting that “what Lex and Rick Flag are up to affects very much what happens in an aspect of Man of Tomorrow.” He added that this partnership represents “a potentially negative thing for Superman and all meta-humans.”
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Cameo
Following the finale, James Gunn shared a behind-the-scenes photo from the set of episode 6, featuring himself with Nicholas Hoult in his Lex Luthor prison jumpsuit and Frank Grillo, who plays Rick Flag Sr. Gunn joked about the episode’s title in his social media caption, calling it “The Scorpion and the Frog.” The image offered fans a fun glimpse into the production of the critically important scene that bridges Peacemaker to the wider DCU.
Forming a New Heroic Team
While Peacemaker was being sent to Salvation, his friends were building something new. The finale saw the core team—Harcourt, Adebayo, Vigilante, and Economos—join forces with former allies and adversaries like Judomaster, Langston Fleury, and A.R.G.U.S. defector Sasha Bordeaux. Using Vigilante’s saved “blood money,” they established a new independent agency named Checkmate, with the goal of making the world a better place. This sets them up as a potential counter-force to the shady operations of A.R.G.U.S. in future DCU stories.
How It Connects to the Superman Sequel
The season’s ending is a direct setup for Superman: Man of Tomorrow, scheduled for release in 2027. James Gunn has stated that the film will be “as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie,” and will feature the two characters teaming up against a larger threat. The establishment of the Salvation prison planet and Luthor’s growing influence from behind bars are key pieces of this foundation.
Gunn directly connected the events of the finale to the future film, explaining that “where Chris is at the end, what is happening between the government and the metahumans, Rick and Lex’s new partnership, and all of their decision to do what they did is all a part of the future, Man of Tomorrow, and more.”
Fan Reaction to the Finale
The finale received mixed reactions from audiences. While many appreciated the character developments and the setup for the future, some fans expressed disappointment that the episode did not feature the additional major cameos that had been speculated about online. The finale became the lowest-rated episode of the season on rating sites like IMDb, with some viewers feeling that the hype for the last few episodes did not match the final product. On social media, one fan summarized the feeling by calling the finale “all hype and no delivery.”
The Future of Peacemaker
While a third season of Peacemaker has not been officially announced, James Gunn has confirmed that the character and his team will return. On social media, he stated that Peacemaker will be back and that audiences will see this collective of characters again in “not too long.” For now, the story of Chris Smith trapped on Salvation and the rise of the Checkmate agency will likely continue in other DCU projects before any potential third season.
Also Read: James Gunn Wanted Deadpool in Peacemaker Finale, Ryan Reynolds Was Ready
