I Can’t Believe DC Just Confirmed This Shocking Character Is Still DCU Canon

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In simpler terms, the new DC Universe is being constructed by co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, who are preserving certain characters, stories, and actors from the old DC Extended Universe while also establishing a fresh, consistent continuity. Instead of starting completely anew, they’re creating a world that feels lived-in right from the beginning. However, this approach raises questions about what exactly is considered official history. The second season of Peacemaker is playing a key role in this transition, serving as a link between Gunn’s previous DC works and the new canon, and its latest reveal has the biggest impact yet.

Warning: Spoilers below for Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 3

The central focus of the DCU’s launch involves a careful blending of past and present events, as demonstrated by the references made in both the animated series “Creature Commandos” and the upcoming Season 2 of “Peacemaker,” which tie directly to the 2021 film “The Suicide Squad.” Notably, these productions confirm that the Corto Maltese mission and the demise of Rick Flag Jr., played by Joel Kinnaman, are significant events in this revised timeline. However, it’s important to note that not all aspects of earlier projects are considered part of this continuity. James Gunn’s selective approach to storyline consistency has now expanded, reaching into one of the DCEU’s controversial films to establish that a key supernatural character is now an integral part of the new universe’s history.

The Enchantress Exists in the DCU

In the third episode of Season 2 for the series Peacemaker, we start off with a past scene that significantly alters Rick Flag Jr.’s personal storyline. This intriguing moment features Rick and his ARGUS colleague, Emilia Harcourt (played by Jennifer Holland), who were secretly involved in a romantic affair. The conversation between them hints at this affair happening while Rick was still in a long-term relationship with Dr. June Moone. Their discussion reveals Rick’s reluctance to end things with June, as he is worried about the potential emotional turmoil causing June to unleash her destructive power. This pivotal dialogue serves as a nod to the DCU and introduces one of its most formidable and perilous villains from the older continuity: the Enchantress.

In case you’re not recalling, Dr. June Moone (played by Cara Delevingne) was a key figure in the 2016 film “Suicide Squad”. Her character was an archaeologist who experienced a supernatural transformation, becoming inhabited by a metahuman witch named the Enchantress. In this movie, the government official Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) manipulated the entity by keeping its heart captive, compelling it to work towards her objectives. June’s protector and handler was Rick Flag, who formed a profound romantic bond with her throughout the film, providing much of the emotional depth in the storyline.

In the movie Suicide Squad, the main conflict arises when Enchantress manages to break free from Waller’s grasp, sets her brother Incubus free, and intends to construct a device to wipe out humanity. The Suicide Squad is consequently deployed to halt her plans. Towards the end of the film, the team successfully eliminates Incubus and destroys Enchantress’s bodily form, liberating June Moone from her influence. At the closing moments, it appears that Rick Flag and June have reconciled, suggesting a stable relationship. However, as shown in the latest Peacemaker scene, their bond endured for years following those events, lasting all the way up until Flag’s demise.

Is 2016’s Suicide Squad Canon to the DCU?

The discovery that the Enchantress is real does not automatically make the entire 2016 Suicide Squad film part of the official storyline. This movie shares connections with Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which had their own stories revised by Gunn’s Superman and the larger DCU overhaul. The DCU now has a new Superman (David Corenswet), will soon have a new Batman, and presents an alternate origin for its superpowered universe, where metahumans have been around for centuries. Consequently, the Suicide Squad’s specific storyline, such as their battle against Enchantress in Midway City, conflicts with this revised continuity.

In my view, Gunn’s approach is to carefully select significant events, figures, and connections from the 2016 Suicide Squad movie that he feels add depth to the new DCU timeline. By doing so, he has effectively woven these key aspects into the DCU’s historical fabric, implying that while the film itself may not be considered canonical, it has had a profound impact on the DCU’s narrative. In this revised chronology, Rick Flag continues his missions with Task Force X, encounters and falls in love with June Moone, and she still becomes possessed by the Enchantress. These events are now regarded as established facts that shape the characters and their stories within the new timeline.

In the second season of “Peacemaker,” the dynamic between Peacemaker (Rick Flag Jr.) and the Enchantress significantly alters the landscape for DC Studios, as it paves a path for incorporating elements from previous DCEU films, such as “Aquaman” or “Shazam!” into the new continuity. Although the main Snyder-era Justice League storyline has been abandoned, this development implies that particular characters or incidents from these movies could potentially fit into the revised timeline, provided they don’t conflict with the new primary narrative. This opens up a vast array of possibilities for director James Gunn and his creative team to construct an intricate history without being constrained by the storylines of movies that were either panned by critics or underperformed at the box office.

New episodes of Peacemaker premiere on HBO Max on Thursdays.

In the spirit of discussing potential additions, share your thoughts on which characters or incidents from the old DC Extended Universe (DCEU) you believe should be incorporated into the new DC Universe (DCU). Voice your preferences in the comment section below!

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2025-09-05 15:41