Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Peacemaker: Season 2, Episode 6 (“Ignorance is Chris”).
Today, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with DC Studios co-chief, James Gunn, to delve into the explosive latest episode of Peacemaker. This particular installment sent shockwaves through the fandom with a surprise appearance from none other than Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor.
In this episode, masterfully written and directed by Gunn himself, we see A.R.G.U.S. director Rick Flag, Sr. (played by Frank Grillo) in a desperate hunt for Peacemaker (John Cena) and his interdimensional portal device. This urgency leads Flag to cut a deal with Luthor, offering him a transfer to a more comfortable prison in exchange for his assistance.
When pressed on how this momentous “deal with the devil” would impact Gunn’s upcoming Superman film, Man of Tomorrow – where Luthor and Superman are slated to form an unlikely alliance against a larger threat – Gunn stated, “What you can expect is that that relationship between Rick Flag and Lex Luthor is consequential to the DCU.”
My full conversation with James Gunn follows, edited for enhanced clarity and flow:
IGN: Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal of Lex in Peacemaker feels notably colder and darker compared to his appearance in Superman. The online community seems to really appreciate this take. Is this shift in character simply a reflection of his recent failures?
James Gunn: Absolutely, that’s a significant part of it. He’s just been utterly defeated by a super dog, and now he’s facing a life sentence in prison. So, he’s definitely in a very grim, dark place emotionally.
Even I was surprised by the intensity we captured during the filming of that scene. Part of it is also the inherent tonal difference between the two shows. Superman is more heightened, while Peacemaker leans towards a more naturalistic style. This variation simply comes from moving between these distinct narrative approaches.
I genuinely love this aspect, as it mirrors what I’ve always cherished about comic books: seeing different writers and artists bring their unique perspectives to these connected characters, creating tonally diverse yet cohesive stories. You can already see this dynamic between Peacemaker and Superman, and it will become even more pronounced as other directors join the DCU.
IGN: Should we anticipate this darker, more defeated interpretation of Luthor in Man of Tomorrow?
James Gunn: No, not exactly. As I mentioned, Man of Tomorrow will have its own distinct flavor. While it’s true he starts from a place of defeat here, the key takeaway is that the bond formed between Rick Flag and Lex Luthor in Peacemaker will have significant ramifications for the wider DCU narrative.
IGN: Lex’s limp and the cane – I assume those are lingering effects from Krypto’s attack?
James Gunn: Yes, precisely. It hasn’t been that long since that incident occurred.
IGN: So, will he still be limping in Man of Tomorrow? Is that why he might need power armor?
James Gunn: No, he’ll be on the mend. He’ll be in much better condition by that point.
IGN: You highlighted the importance of Flag’s partnership with Lex. Given their deal involving interdimensional technology in Peacemaker, does this imply that interdimensional threats will be an ongoing theme in Man of Tomorrow, or even a larger overarching element in the DCU?
James Gunn: Well, my answer to that is a “no,” but with an important asterisk. You will definitely learn more about the specifics of Lex’s and Rick’s collaboration by the time Peacemaker concludes.
IGN: What are your thoughts on online communities quickly uncovering the subtle twist about “the Best Dimension Ever” — specifically, the absence of people of color? And how challenging or crucial was it to meticulously set the scene to conceal elements like Nazi flags or other white supremacist coded visuals?
James Gunn: I think it’s entirely logical that people eventually pieced it together. All it takes is one observant person to question, “Wait a minute,” and then compare the background actors in Earth X to those on our Earth, or Earth One. They’d notice, “We film in Atlanta, Georgia; there’s certainly no shortage of diverse background talent, and James is known for including a lot of diversity in his productions.” So, it makes perfect sense that they figured it out.
However, it’s quite fascinating because I showed the entire series to many people before it even aired. During that final round of feedback, I was asking, “Is anything unclear? Is anything too provocative? How might the audience react? What should I prepare for?” And not a single person, across all ethnicities, picked up on that detail. Not one. So, the fact that viewers caught on so early, by the beginning of episode two, was truly surprising. It was like, “Wow, okay, they got it!”
IGN: Those eagle-eyed internet detectives truly miss nothing.
James Gunn: Indeed, once it’s out there, it’s out there. There’s no hiding it then.
IGN: So, is “the Best Dimension Ever” a world where the Allies lost World War II?
James Gunn: You’ll discover all the answers to that in the very next episode. All will be revealed.
IGN: Regarding the mysterious character teased in the promo for the upcoming episode – have we encountered them before? And please tell me it’s a live-action G.I. Robot on a mission to eliminate Nazis!
James Gunn: It’s not, unfortunately. People already know who that character is. They’ve seen him in various previews, so while the tease makes it seem very mysterious, it’s actually not that much of a secret.
IGN: Could you comment on the playful nod to Spider-Man being canon in the DCU? That meme joke was fantastic.
James Gunn: Listen, I previously made Batman canon in Marvel, so I figured it was only fair to return the favor. So, now we can safely assume that in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they avidly read DC Comics, and conversely, in the DC Universe, they enthusiastically read Marvel Comics. It’s a fun contradiction – you’d expect DC Comics to be hugely popular within the DCU, but apparently, they prefer Marvel. And in the MCU, it seems they’re voracious readers of DC Comics.
IGN: I also wanted to ask about the cold open with the melting photo. Is there a deeper, more sinister implication there, or is it simply…?
James Gunn: Yes, it’s purely intended to give the audience a subtle hint, a “Wait a second, things aren’t what they seem” moment. We’re introduced to these adorable kids and a seemingly innocent scene, but it subtly suggests something far darker lurks beneath the surface.
IGN: I’m really enjoying the show and eagerly anticipate how everything will conclude.
James Gunn: I am incredibly proud of episode eight, and I truly cannot wait for everyone to see it. It’s truly something special, especially for the dedicated comic book fans. It’s going to be… just great!
For additional insights into James Gunn’s DCU, explore the latest discussions around his upcoming projects.