James Gunn has pulled back the curtain on the shocking events in Season 2 of Peacemaker – including a Nazi twist no one saw coming, the surprise Lex Luthor cameo, and why Superman won’t be flying into the show.
In the latest season, John Cena’s Christopher Smith, aka Peacemaker, finds himself enchanted by an alternate universe where life seems picture-perfect. In this reality, he never accidentally killed his brother Keith, played by David Denman. Instead, Keith thrives as Captain Triumph, and together with their father Auggie – the Blue Dragon, portrayed by Robert Patrick – they form a beloved superhero family. Even Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), usually tough and guarded, is emotionally whole and capable of romance. For Peacemaker, who has endured endless trauma, this world feels like everything he ever wanted. By the end of Episode 5, he abandons his own Earth in favor of the alternate one, especially since he already killed his alt-Earth double in Episode 1.
Yet something always seemed “off” about this world. It wasn’t just small quirks, like Cheerios being spelled “Cheeri-ohs.” In Episode 6, aptly titled Ignorance Is Chris, the truth finally comes out.
The 11th Street Kids – Harcourt, Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), and Economos (Steve Agee) – track down Peacemaker to bring him home. Their chaotic arrival includes an accidental run-in with Vigilante’s stash of contraband cocaine, but the mission quickly takes a darker turn.
As Harcourt convinces Keith to escort her to A.R.G.U.S. headquarters, she notices the eerie absence of people of color in the town. Meanwhile, Vigilante finds his alternate self, who is disturbingly identical – except for calling Peacemaker his “archenemy.” Adebayo and Economos explore the neighborhood, but the horror escalates when locals react to Adebayo with disgust. Keith suddenly spots her, slams on his brakes, and yells: “One got out! A Black!” Soon, Adebayo is chased through the streets by a mob of Nazi Americans.
The final reveal is chilling. As Peacemaker and Harcourt share an emotional moment, he notices the American flags in the alt-A.R.G.U.S. offices – only instead of stars, they bear swastikas. It becomes clear: on this Earth, which James Gunn identifies as Earth X from DC Comics lore, Nazi Germany won World War II.
Gunn wrote and directed this pivotal episode, and he worked hard to guard the twist. He refused to share advance copies with the press, instead conducting private test screenings to see if audiences would catch the subtle hints before Episode 6’s reveal.
“No one noticed at all,” Gunn told Variety. “And that was people of color, too, by the way. It wasn’t just, you know, the whites.”
Of course, internet sleuths had pieced things together early. Fans speculated about the whiteness of the population in alt-Earth scenes, combined with Auggie’s history as the virulent white supremacist White Dragon. Gunn admits that the online discourse made it tough to keep the surprise completely intact.
“It’s really hard when you’re online and one person out of the millions of people that are watching the show says, ‘Wait a second,’ and points out screenshots showing the difference between the alt-Earth and the DCU,” he said. “Some people knew it was coming, but many were still shocked.”
Filming this storyline during the 2024 U.S. presidential election added even more weight to the narrative. Gunn, known for blending outrageous humor with biting social commentary, leaned into the political backdrop while keeping the story anchored in Peacemaker’s emotional journey.
But the Nazi twist wasn’t the only surprise Gunn had up his sleeve. Fans were stunned to see Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, make an appearance in the series. Gunn explained that the cameo was more than just fan service – it’s a direct tie to the larger DC Universe. Lex’s appearance sets the stage for Superman: Man of Tomorrow, the 2027 film starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel.
However, Superman himself won’t be showing up in Peacemaker. Gunn revealed that Corenswet was disappointed by the decision, feeling strongly about Superman’s connection to this world. But Gunn was firm in his choice, noting that Peacemaker’s story works best when it focuses on grounded, flawed characters dealing with outlandish situations. Superman, he explained, would have overshadowed that balance.
“David was really upset that Superman wouldn’t be on the show,” Gunn admitted. “But ultimately, it’s Peacemaker’s journey. It’s about him, his friends, and the bizarre messes they get into.”
By weaving in the shocking Earth X reveal, a disturbing glimpse at Nazi America, and the seeds of DC’s cinematic future with Lex Luthor, Gunn has proven again that Peacemaker isn’t just raunchy comedy – it’s bold storytelling with emotional and political depth.
Season 2 has sparked intense online discussion, with fans debating the risks Gunn takes and praising the balance of absurdity and raw social critique. If anything, the Lex cameo and the Nazi twist prove that Gunn is playing the long game with the DCU, planting storylines now that will grow into the films ahead.
As Gunn put it: “Some people were freaked out. Some people saw it coming. But that’s the fun of storytelling – making people think, laugh, and sometimes get really uncomfortable.”
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