Warning! Mild SPOILERS for the first three episodes of Peacemaker
James Gunn’s Peacemaker has arguably catapulted the DCEU to a new level of critical success, and it proves that DC’s rumored plan to double down on The Suicide Squad spinoffs is a smart one. Even after Gunn lent his talents to the quasi-reboot The Suicide Squad to impressive results, the announcement of an upcoming Peacemaker spin-off was a bit of a surprise. Now, with Peacemaker’s first three episodes available on HBO Max, it’s clear James Gunn is at his all-time best.
While no other spinoffs have yet been announced, speculation has been rampant after Gunn teased the idea on Twitter in response to a fan question. When speaking with Screen Rant, Gunn even exclaimed, “Oh yes! [I’m thinking about others.] Perhaps [something is in the works]. I don’t know [if the finale will reveal more]. If you’re good at guessing, maybe.” Taken together, it certainly seems that more Suicide Squad spinoffs are on the way.
Judging by the quality and success of Peacemaker, more James Gunn spinoff shows would be a welcome addition to DCEU canon. Though Gunn is certainly not lacking as a writer or director in any way, he shines the most when delving into complex and flawed characters. Peacemaker himself was presented in The Suicide Squad as a one-note antihero, but the show gives Gunn the chance to explore all facets of the character. Peacemaker presents its titular character as a deeply wounded man, whose moronic actions and ideology are just as sympathetic – and pathetic – as they are hilarious. Even if Gunn had all of this in mind during Peacemaker’s The Suicide Squad debut, the longer nature of TV afforded the director the chance to really explore the character – and gave John Cena the chance to turn in one of his best acting performances yet.
The extended nature of TV storytelling also gives Gunn more opportunities to let his humor come through. Gunn’s humor springs from his characters themselves, so the more time they have on-screen, the more their eccentricities can shine through. A great example is the argument John, Clemson, and Leota have about the Berenstain Bears in Peacemaker’s third episode. This drawn-out take on the Mandela effect (most people believe the property is the “Berenstein Bears“) is both endearing and hilarious, but would likely have been cut from a tight 2-hour film.
Gunn’s focus on character is certainly what stands out about Peacemaker over its villainous Butterflies or action sequences. From Guardians of the Galaxy to The Suicide Squad, Gunn’s tenure in the superhero genre has revolved around mismatched teams of flawed people coming together to form a family. Because of how well Gunn crafts these dynamics, the plots of his films tend to become secondary to the personal journeys of his antiheroes. This is no weakness of the director’s, as the payoffs in Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad, and Guardians are all stronger due to the emotional weight that accrues beneath them.
After the surprising transformation of Peacemaker from a villain into a sympathetic figure, it’s clear that any character from The Suicide Squad could be a worthy candidate for future spinoffs. As anticipated as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (and any potential Suicide Squad follow-up) may be, James Gunn’s time in television points to an even more promising future in that medium. Perhaps a new show will even be teased by the end of the first season of Peacemaker.
