Before the second season of *Peacemaker* even launched on HBO Max, James Gunn, who co-leads DC Studios, hinted that the story would tie into the upcoming *Superman* sequel, *Man of Tomorrow*. While early episodes included hints and appearances of *Superman* characters, the full connection wasn’t revealed until the season finale. The ending of *Peacemaker* Season 2, though it sparked debate, clearly sets the stage for the new DC Universe and the next *Superman* movie starring David Corenswet. It also introduces the characters who are likely to play a role, including a newly formed superteam making its first appearance in the DCU.
Warning: Spoilers below for Peacemaker Season 2
After their adventures on Earth X, the 11th Street Kids realize they need to do more to combat injustice back home. Sasha Bordeaux comes to the same conclusion after witnessing Rick Flag Sr. become increasingly paranoid and willing to sacrifice his own agents in his obsessive search for a dimension to imprison metahumans. Even more concerning, Rick Flag Sr. teams up with Lex Luthor, using Luthor’s resources and specialists to unlock the secrets of the Quantum Unfolding Chamber, all to further his dangerous mission.
At the close of *Peacemaker* Season 2, the team – including the 11th Street Kids and Sasha Bordeaux – uses the money Adrian stole from criminals to establish Checkmate, a new security organization. Checkmate is designed to be a force for good, independent of political agendas or military goals, and even manages to attract some members from the existing ARGUS agency, like Agent Fleury and Judomaster. Although Checkmate doesn’t take action in Season 2, it’s set up to be an important ongoing part of the DC Universe, mirroring its role in the comics.
What Is Checkmate in DC Comics?
Checkmate is a long-standing, complex spy organization within the DC Universe. It began as part of Task Force X and was built around a chess-inspired ranking system: leaders like a King, Queen, and Bishops made big-picture plans, while Knights and Rooks handled missions in the field. The agency worked as a secret government force, dealing with threats – including superpowered individuals and political issues – in a way that kept the government’s involvement hidden. This allowed Checkmate to operate discreetly, often putting its agents in difficult ethical situations as they protected the country from supervillains, dangerous nations, and magical problems that were beyond the Justice League’s usual focus.
The organization truly took shape after the *Infinite Crisis* event, becoming an intelligence agency officially authorized by the United Nations. This version, prominently showcased in Greg Rucka and Jesús Saiz’s *Checkmate* series, introduced a key internal struggle. Leadership was deliberately divided between two opposing figures to create a system of checks and balances. Sasha Bordeaux rose to become both the Black Knight and Black Queen, while Amanda Waller also sought control, making Checkmate a competitor to her own operations, ARGUS and Task Force X. The goal was to create a more diplomatic and transparent organization, leading to ongoing disagreements about the best way to manage a world with superpowered individuals.
Is Checkmate Going to Be Part of Man of Tomorrow?
DC Studios is being secretive about the story of the upcoming *Man of Tomorrow* movie, but James Gunn has stated that *Peacemaker* Season 2 lays the groundwork for it. This suggests that *Man of Tomorrow* will likely involve “Salvation,” the interdimensional prison introduced in the *Peacemaker* finale. This prison ties into Lex Luthor’s goal of eliminating metahumans, and since Lex Luthor is a key character in *Man of Tomorrow*, Salvation will almost certainly play a role. It seems the main threat Superman and Lex Luthor will face together will come from within Salvation itself, as the *Peacemaker* finale hinted at dangerous creatures lurking within this seemingly perfect world.
Because Checkmate was created using money from ARGUS to locate the metahuman prison known as Salvation, any story about Salvation will also involve the new group formed by the 11th Street Kids. Checkmate will oppose ARGUS within the DC Universe, fighting for equal rights for metahumans. This also clarifies James Gunn’s plans for the *Peacemaker* characters, including hints that Peacemaker (John Cena) will appear in future DC movies. It seems likely that the upcoming *Man of Tomorrow* film will serve as Checkmate’s first on-screen mission, connecting all these storylines.
Man of Tomorrow is set to be released on July 9, 2027.
Will Checkmate play a significant role in the upcoming *Man of Tomorrow* story? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-10-13 00:40