The DC Extended Universe continues to expand.
Following on from James Gunn’s 2021 film The Suicide Squad, Warner Bros is bringing us a spin-off series focused on the furiously dedicated anti-hero Peacemaker, played by John Cena.
As revealed by the end credits scenes of The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker is alive and well and now being handled by NSA agents.
In case that wasn’t enough, we will be exploring the character’s origin story whilst also seeing him tackle new threats.
So, when exactly will the new series come to HBO Max and when can we expect to watch Peacemaker in the UK?
Here is all you need to know about the new DC Comics series.
Peacemaker release date on HBO Max.
DC’s Peacemaker will premiere on HBO Max in the US on the 13th January 2022.
The first three episodes will be released before its subsequent five episodes are released one each week, with run times varying around 45 minutes.
The season finale will be released on the 17th February 2022.
It is unknown if there will be any subsequent seasons of Peacemaker, but James Gunn is keen.
He told the Happy Sad Confused podcast: “The truth is, I’m awful busy. I want to do a Peacemaker season two so that’s the only thing I’m committed to if it happens right now.”
We will have to wait and see whether the DC Comics series proves to be a hit!
How to watch Peacemaker in the UK
We do not currently know of a home for Peacemaker in the UK and as such the series will not currently be available.
Sky and NOW have no plans at present to release the series in the UK, similar to some other HBO Max properties.
HBO Max is yet to launch in the UK and it remains to be seen if it will any time soon.
Tweeting in January 2022, James Gunn addressed the question of a UK release date with a note that some things needed to be “worked out”.
It will be there just not immediately. Just have to work out some things.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 4, 2022
No UK release has been announced for the streaming giant.
It might be that HBO’s existing deal with Sky will complicate the launch of HBO Max in the UK, as many of the broadcaster’s biggest shows – including some Max originals – are currently available on NOW TV.
We’ll update this page with more information as concrete details arrive.
Peacemaker cast
WWE Legend and Hollywood star John Cena takes the title role in Peacemaker, where he will appear opposite his The Suicide Squad co-star Steve Agee.
Agee plays John Economos, the warden of the high security institution where the Squad are held between missions, as well as a right-hand man to the formidable Amanda Waller.
Another familiar face returning from Gunn’s The Suicide Squad movie is Jennifer Holland as NSA agent Emilia Harcourt, who is one of the officials monitoring the team’s activity.
Orange is the New Black star Danielle Brooks will take a major role as a character named Leota Adebayo, and we can also expect to see the Terminator T-1000 himself, Robert Patrick, as Peacemaker’s father, Auggie.
Behind-the-scenes look at the 'Peacemaker' crew ????
— Fandom (@getFANDOM) February 18, 2021
(via @JamesGunn) pic.twitter.com/gbhyrSCusM
Meanwhile, Chris Conrad will portray DC Comics crimefighter Adrian Chase, a character bestowed with healing abilities who has previously appeared in Arrow (a now-concluded series set in a separate continuity).
Rounding out the supporting cast are Chukwudi Iwuji (News of the World), Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek), Lenny Jacobson (Bumblebee), Elizabeth Ludlow (The Walking Dead) and Nhut Le as DC Comics superhero Judomaster.
Peacemaker trailer
A full trailer for the Peacemaker series has now been released, with an official Red Band trailer available in the link below.
The series shows off the anti-hero in action as he takes on a new antagonistic threat.
Expect the trademark dark humour from director-writer James Gunn.
What is DC’s Peacemaker about?
!["John]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/02/john-cena_5-e39554d.jpg?quality=90&crop=5px%2C7px%2C630px%2C420px&resize=620%2C413" "\"john-cena_5\"")
The series is set following the events of The Suicide Squad and follows Peacemaker/Christopher Smith on his subsequent missions.
In the comic books, Peacemaker is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek character, billed as a pacifist who “loves peace so much that he is willing to fight for it”.
He is later revealed to be suffering from a severe mental illness caused by trauma inflicted on him by his evil father, so these plot details could very well make it into the streaming series.
The series will explore the character’s origins too and perhaps why he committed the dark behaviour he did in The Suicide Squad.
Alternatively, it’s quite possible that Gunn will scrap the comic book lore and take the character in an all-new direction, as he hasn’t been afraid to make bold choices in the past (see Guardians of the Galaxy).
Will DC’s Peacemaker cross over with The Suicide Squad?
The Peacemaker series will continue on directly after the end of The Suicide Squad.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in February 2021, HBO and HBO Max’s Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys explained that Warner Media’s top priority with their upcoming slate of DC content is to “make sure that the universe is logical and makes sense”.
“That the movies speak to the TV shows that speak to the movies — that it’s all connected,” he added.
On that note, actor and comedian Steve Agee will also star in both the Peacemaker TV series and The Suicide Squad.
Peacemaker is released in the US on HBO Max on 13th January 2022.
Looking for something else to watch? Take a look at the rest of our Sci-fi and Fantasy coverage, or check out what else is on with our TV guide.