“This fight is even dirtier than the last one.” That’s the promise baked into the new red-band trailer for “Peacemaker” Season 2, and creator James Gunn isn’t bluffing. HBO Max’s most gleefully profane superhero send-up returns August 21, with John Cena’s Chris Smith back for another eight-episode run that ups the ante on violence, profanity, and questionable moral choices—and, yes, even finds room for a full-blown sex orgy amid the mayhem.
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While the trailer itself sticks to the immediate chaos of Peacemaker’s latest mission, reports have already confirmed that Season 2 will fold in key characters from Gunn’s upcoming “Superman” film. Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner / Green Lantern, Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, and Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord will all appear later in the season, further stitching “Peacemaker” into the connective fabric of the DCU. Their arrival signals a bigger, more integrated role for the series, even as it maintains its proudly R-rated, misfit tone.
Set one month after the events of “Superman,” the new season brings back Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., whose storyline promises to reopen old wounds from “The Suicide Squad.” The trailer—set to an orchestral-sized version of Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Going To Take It”—delivers the expected splashes of Gunn’s signature meta-humor, over-the-top action, and moments of surprising sincerity, while teasing new layers to Peacemaker’s reluctant evolution. Gunn directs three episodes, joined by Greg Mottola, Peter Sollett, and Alethea Jones.
Equal parts superhero satire, profane workplace comedy, and chaotic therapy session, “Peacemaker” remains one of the few comic book adaptations willing to swing from juvenile to poignant in the span of a scene. Season 2 now carries the added weight of being a bridge to the DCU’s next phase—though knowing Chris Smith, he’ll probably trip over that bridge and set it on fire.
“Peacemaker” Season 2 premieres Thursday, August 21, 2025, on HBO Max. Watch the R-rated, red-band trailer below.
