James Gunn reveals that the Peacemaker Season 2 ending was nearly much less depressing

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The first season of Peacemaker concluded with a rather somber ending, but writer and director James Gunn reveals his initial script was actually much more hopeful. Be warned: spoilers follow…

The second season of Peacemaker was emotionally challenging for Christopher Smith. He found out his father and brother were still living, but then worried they might have Nazi beliefs. At the same time, he started to think of himself as a force of destruction – the ‘Angel of Death’.

Despite the challenges, Episode 8 also showed some good things happening for the character. He found a new sense of family with the 11th Street Kids, and Harcourt admitted her feelings for him, which he clearly reciprocates.

Just as things seem to be looking up for Peacemaker, a major setback occurs. However, that hasn’t always been the pattern…

Peacemaker Season 2 originally had a happy ending

In the eighth episode of Peacemaker Season 2, both active and retired A.R.G.U.S. agents discover they’re being sacrificed as part of a plan to find a suitable prison for people with superpowers, and they’re understandably upset about it.

Okay, so Vigilante and the crew pooled their resources – turns out he had a secret stash of cash! – and used it to start a new organization called Checkmate. Their goal? Basically, to try and make the world a better place, which is pretty cool.

As the episode concludes, the Checkmate team confidently walks through their new office in slow motion, clearly excited about this new beginning. This is how the episode originally ended, as explained by writer and director James Gunn on the official Peacemaker podcast.

We envision Checkmate improving the world, and it’s heartwarming to see Eagly, who was previously withdrawn, now soaring through the sky with joy… that’s where the initial version of the story concluded!

Gunn explained that he showed Peter Safran a scene he’d written for the end of the project. Safran was surprised, but Gunn clarified that the scene, known as ‘Salvation,’ was always intended to be part of the larger DC Universe plan. After hearing the details, Safran encouraged Gunn to include it.

In the comics, Salvation is a planet used as a high-security prison for supervillains, run by the Suicide Squad. After a discussion with Safran, this location was chosen for the concluding scene of the Peacemaker series. Here’s how James Gunn explains the scene:

The season ends with Peacemaker being unexpectedly kidnapped while wearing a Foxy Shazam shirt. He’s then transported to a new dimension called Salvation – they’ve found a way to make the portal directly connect the warehouse to this other world. The people taking him claim he signed up for this mission, despite the fact that he doesn’t have any superpowers.

Rick Flagg Sr. finally gets his revenge, delivering a harsh message to his enemy: “This is for Ricky, you piece of trash.” As the song “Reckoning” by Cruel Intentions begins, we see that the supposed safe haven planet isn’t safe at all. The terrifying sounds of creatures surrounding Peacemaker reveal the danger they’re truly in, despite the planet being intended as a prison.

“They close the portal, and the season ends as they shut them in there.”

So, the Peacemaker Season 2 finale started all cheerful, but things took a really dark turn for Peacemaker himself. It totally sets up a new story arc, and honestly, I’m wondering if we’ll see it resolved in Season 3, or maybe even in the new Superman movie, ‘Man of Tomorrow’. It feels like they’re building to something bigger!

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2025-10-10 15:19