Peacemaker S2: “You Belong Here With Us,” Says Harcourt

HBO Max went big this past weekend at San Diego Comic-Con, dropping the official full-length trailer for Season 2 of Peacemaker, the Emmy-nominated DC spinoff series from director James Gunn. The trailer offers the first real glimpse at what’s to come for John Cena’s Christopher Smith (Peacemaker) and his crew of misfits. And it’s safe to say: Season 2 is going to be bigger, weirder, and more emotional.

Peacemaker follows the events of The Suicide Squad (2021). The first season, which consists of eight episodes, picks up five months after the Corto Maltese mission. Peacemaker barely survived a gunshot to the head and was recruited by the U.S. government for a top-secret black-ops mission known as “Project Butterfly.” Smith is assigned to a new team led by Clemson Murn (Chukwudi Iwuji) and aided by A.R.G.U.S. agent John Economos (Steve Agee), NSA agent Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), and new member Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks).

Project Butterfly turns out to be much more than a standard government-sanctioned mission. Tasked with taking out a team of parasitic alien butterflies that are invading Earth by inhabiting human bodies, the team narrowly escapes with their lives and a slew of serious injuries and emotional trauma.

Peacemaker returns to an altered DC Universe. While the events of Season 1 took place inside the now-shuttered DCEU, Season 2 of Peacemaker exists in the newly launched DCU, as confirmed by Gunn himself, as a part of his “Gods and Monsters” slate of projects. Gunn confirmed that the events of past seasons are still canon, aside from some select cameos from Justice League heroes.

The returning cast includes Cena, Brooks, Holland, Agee, and Freddie Stroma as the fan-favorite, unhinged masked vigilante. Also returning are Nhut Le as Judomaster, and Eagly, Peacemaker’s bald eagle sidekick. Robert Patrick also reprises his role as Peacemaker’s deceased father, Auggie Smith. As for newcomers this season, Frank Grillo joins the cast as Rick Flagg Sr., father to The Suicide Squad’s recently deceased Rick Flagg (who was killed by Peacemaker in the film). Grillo’s Flagg has now been promoted to lead A.R.G.U.S. and is out for blood. Also joining are Tim Meadows as agent Langston Fleury, Sol Rodriguez as Sasha Bordeaux, and Michael Rooker as Red St. Wild, the “nemesis” of Eagly.

As per the official synopsis, Chris Smith now has to contend with both the emotional fallout of his violent past life as well as his yearning to be a better man. He still yearns for peace—but not just any peace, he wants to be recognized as a hero.

The official teaser dropped in May and gave fans their first look at the absurdity and the carnage to come in Season 2. Set to Foxy Shazam’s “Oh Lord,” the video included a particularly standout sequence in which Chris makes a failed attempt to join the Justice League. That includes Green Lantern/Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders (Isabela Merced), and Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn) reprising their roles from the Snyder Cut of Superman. His awkward pitch falls flat, of course.

The teaser also offered some fun character updates. Adebayo is “living in the worst level of Grand Theft Auto,” as Economos puts it. Harcourt is dealing with “a particularly severe form of toxic masculinity,” while Vigilante has landed a gig in food service.

The biggest reveal, though, came from the trailer. In one of its more mind-blowing moments, Chris stumbles through a dimensional portal and into a parallel universe where he meets another version of himself—only this version of Peacemaker has already achieved true hero status and is beloved by many. Frustrated with his position in his world (as well as a recent romantic rejection), he entertains the idea of staying with this new team. Of course, things are about to come crashing down on him, as his past catches up in a big way. “No matter how green the grass is over there, you belong here. With us,” Harcourt solemnly intones.

James Gunn, who appeared onstage during SDCC’s Hall H panel, was quick to point out that Season 2 is all about Peacemaker growing and changing as a character. “I like TV shows where the characters don’t just return every season and they’re the same characters,” Gunn said. “I want to see growth. I want to see change—and sometimes regression. Peacemaker is a different guy this year. He’s dealing with the demons he uncovered from the first season and trying to deal with them, and the world is not accepting him the way he is. They aren’t accepting him as a hero.”

In addition to Gunn, Peacemaker Season 2 also has executive producers Dante Harper, Hilary J. Bisch, and Trammel Stiles. Series producers include Jessica Campbell, Jenna Winosen, Erika Raven, Katy Ellerman, Bradley J. Miller, and Ryan Werber.

Peacemaker Season 2 premieres August 21, 2025, exclusively on HBO Max.