The season 2 finale of *Peacemaker* may have just laid the groundwork for a story within the new DC Universe. James Gunn revealed plans for a rebooted DCU in January 2023, outlining the first phase, “Gods and Monsters.” While some of these projects are moving forward quickly, others are less certain. The finale, titled “Full Nelson,” hints at a potential storyline for one of those projects that was previously up in the air.
Currently, the DC Universe includes *Creature Commandos*, *Superman*, and season two of *Peacemaker*. Several other projects like *Supergirl*, *Lanterns*, and *Clayface* are also in development, and fans are hoping to see the *Waller* series added to the lineup. Announced in 2023, *Waller* will bring back Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, the former director of ARGUS. While developing a storyline for the series has been challenging, the finale of *Peacemaker* season two may have provided the ideal plot for Davis’s return to the DCU.
Amanda Waller Has History With Checkmate in DC Comics
The season 2 finale of *Peacemaker* showed the 11th Street Kids creating Checkmate, a new organization that will compete with ARGUS. Checkmate has a long history in DC Comics, first appearing in 1988’s *Action Comics #598*. It evolved from an earlier group called The Agency, which was originally founded by Amanda Waller in 1986’s *Vigilante #36* as a small part of the Suicide Squad (Task Force X). Waller initially put Colonel Valentina Vostok in charge of The Agency, and later, Harry Stein transformed it into the organization now known as Checkmate.
Amanda Waller was originally the hidden leader of Checkmate, much like she controlled the Suicide Squad and other DC groups. This role established her as a key and powerful spy within the DC Universe, making her a vital part of the new DCU films and shows. In the comics, Waller is at the very top of Checkmate’s organization, which is structured like a chess game. However, the Checkmate we’re seeing in the DCU seems to be quite different.
Amanda Waller is strongly associated with the Suicide Squad (also known as Task Force X) and its follow-up team, Task Force M. In the DC Universe storyline, she assembled the Suicide Squad to defend Corto Maltese from an alien threat called Starro, and later created Task Force M in the *Creature Commandos* animated series, with a mission involving Princess Rostovic. Though she was eventually removed from her position at ARGUS and replaced by Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), the upcoming second season of *Peacemaker* hints at a way for Waller to regain her influence in the DCU, now that the organization Checkmate has been introduced.
Peacemaker’s Checkmate Debut Sets Up the Waller Series’ Perfect Storyline
The Checkmate team we see in season 2 of *Peacemaker* isn’t quite the same as the one from the DC Comics, but they might reappear in the upcoming *Waller* series. This version of Checkmate was created by Peacemaker, Emilia Harcourt, John Economos, Vigilante, Sasha Bordeaux, Langston Fleury, Judomaster, and Leota Adebayo – Amanda Waller’s daughter. Leota’s position within the team could be particularly important for the plot of *Waller*.
Even though Amanda Waller lost her position at ARGUS and was replaced by Rick Flag Sr., it’s likely she’ll seek to regain control within another spy agency, and Checkmate seems like the ideal target. She could leverage her complicated history with Leota Adebayo to climb the ranks at Checkmate, potentially even becoming their leader, similar to her role in the DC Comics. With Peacemaker stranded after the season two finale, Checkmate might be vulnerable enough for Waller to seize an opportunity and take charge.
It’s uncertain if the *Waller* series will happen within the new DC Universe, but if it does, including Checkmate would be a logical fit. The show could potentially be inspired by the *Janus Directive* comic storyline, which connected Checkmate and the Suicide Squad, and would be a great way to tie together Amanda Waller’s past appearances in DC films and shows. It’s important to keep Viola Davis involved in the DCU, and ideally give her a bigger role than she had previously, so fans are hoping for her return.
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2025-10-16 14:40