James Gunn has shared his reaction to the DCEUPeacemaker cameos and what they mean going forward for the DCU.
Peacemaker Season 1 was technically part of the DCEU, which ended with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Peter Safran and Gunn have since launched a new shared DC universe, the DCU, which so far includes Creature Commandos and Superman.
While the DCU is a new continuity separate from the DCEU, Peacemaker Season 2, which arrives next month, will be part of the DCU. Gunn has previously stated that the new season will address the continuity change.
Peacemaker, however, wasn’t just confined to the one season in the DCEU; John Cena’s character was part of The Suicide Squad, which was directed by Gunn, while Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt appeared in Black Adam. She and Steve Agee‘s John Economos then return in a mid-credits scene featured in 2023’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
Rizwan Manji, meanwhile, plays Jamil in Peacemaker Season 1 and then shows up as an unnamed character in Fury of the Gods. Gunn has previously said that he thinks of the Shazam! character as “Jamil’s more successful brother.”
What did James Gunn say about Peacemaker and the DCEU?
Speaking with Den of Geek, Gunn confirmed that Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods are not part of the DCU despite the Peacemaker characters’ appearances.
He commented, “They’re not canon! I hate it!”
Regarding how Peacemaker Season 2 handles the DCEU and DCU continuities, Gunn said, “There are certain things from the old universe that we refer to in Peacemaker season 2, but until then, they’re not canon. Almost everything from season 1 is canon, but season 2 will explain everything that is or is not canon.”
Peacemaker Season 2 premieres on HBO Max on August 21, 2025. The season will have eight episodes. The first season, meanwhile, along with Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, are both available to watch on the streaming platform at this time.
Originally reported by Brandon Schreur at SuperHeroHype.
