Peacemaker Won’t Continue One Big Storyline From The Suicide Squad (And It Makes Sense)

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The show *Peacemaker* has a complicated connection to the different DC movie universes. The first season started as a continuation of the movie *The Suicide Squad*, but Season 2 now exists within the newly created DC Universe. James Gunn, the showrunner, came up with a way to explain this change, though some fans are still confused. Because certain events from *The Suicide Squad* are now considered official DC Universe history (like the mission to Corto Maltese), people are curious about what else from that movie might be included. There’s a loose storyline involving characters like Bloodsport, Harley Quinn, and Ratcatcher 2, but don’t anticipate *Peacemaker* – or any future DC Universe project – picking up that thread.

James Gunn recently told *The Hollywood Reporter* he doesn’t plan to explore the fallout from Peacemaker’s actions in *The Suicide Squad*, specifically the tension with his former teammates who were angry about Rick Flag Jr.’s death. He explained that while fans often ask about that movie, it presents a challenge because it doesn’t fully fit into the new DC Universe. Most of *The Suicide Squad* is still connected to the DCU, but it raises more questions than it answers. Unlike the first season of *Peacemaker*, which is almost entirely DCU-based except for its ending and a few minor references, *The Suicide Squad* leaves a lot unexplained.

Gunn explained that while those characters might return in the future, he’s currently focused on Peacemaker grappling with the consequences of killing Rick Flag Jr., and exploring that through his dynamic with Rick Flag Sr. He feels revisiting that event through Bloodsport, who also knew Rick Flag Jr., wouldn’t be as impactful as the story he’s currently telling, and therefore isn’t something he’s interested in pursuing.

Why James Gunn’s Comments About The Suicide Squad Make Sense

Considering the interconnected nature of these stories, revisiting plotlines from *The Suicide Squad* feels unnecessary. *Peacemaker* already thoroughly explored Christopher Smith’s complex feelings of guilt and internal struggles over two seasons. It would oversimplify things to now focus on Bloodsport hunting down Peacemaker to avenge a friend. James Gunn has already addressed this through Rick Flag Sr., a father consumed by grief and willing to do anything to find his son’s killer. While Rick Jr.’s friends cared for him, it’s Rick Sr.’s story that truly gives *Peacemaker* its emotional weight.

The final two episodes of *Peacemaker* Season 2 will likely bring the conflict between Rick Senior and Chris Smith to a head. This resolution should allow the character to move past this family drama, opening up new possibilities for future DCU projects. Instead of revisiting old storylines, like Peacemaker being pursued by his former Task Force X teammates, the show can explore fresh ideas, given everything the character and audience have already experienced.

James Gunn appears to be carefully deciding which parts of *The Suicide Squad* will officially be part of the new DC Universe. So far, the biggest connection is the character Peacemaker and his actions (specifically, killing Rick Flag Jr.). Many details remain unknown, including the complete lineup of Task Force X for the DCU’s version of Project Starfish. Besides Bloodsport and Weasel, only Christopher Smith (Peacemaker) and Rick Flag Jr. have been confirmed as participants, leaving the possibility that Harley Quinn and/or Ratcatcher 2 weren’t involved.

Even though Harley Quinn and Ratcatcher 2 are important in *The Suicide Squad*, the surprise appearance of a former Justice League in the first season of *Peacemaker* suggests their roles might not guarantee their continued prominence in the new DC Universe. The whole point of rebooting the DC films and TV shows was to start fresh, creating a new timeline without being tied to past stories. This means James Gunn should be open to new interpretations of characters like Harley Quinn. While Margot Robbie did a fantastic job as Harley, we’re already seeing hints that the Joker will be reimagined, and the same could happen with Harley, Ratcatcher 2, and other characters.

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2025-09-28 16:42