The Director Removed a Significant Plotline for Chukwudi Iwuji's Character from Peacemaker Season 2
The actor's tough soldier of fortune Clemson Murn met his end in the show's first season, but showrunner James Gunn had earlier teased that he might bring Iwuji back to play another character in the DC Universe. In the latest episode of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, Gunn disclosed that Murn himself even return to Peacemaker, referencing a storyline with major consequences for the series going forward.
[Editor's Note: Plot details follow for Peacemaker season 2, episode 7, "Like a Keith in the Night."]
When anti-hero Chris Smith (John Cena) and his friends visit Earth-X in the new season, they encounter very different versions of several people from their home reality. Rick Flagg, Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) bumbles around knocking over trash cans. Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) prefers books and skirts to fighting and trousers. And Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) battles for the downtrodden as a member of the Sons of Liberty, rather than simply killing drug dealers and petty criminals.
The Murn in Chris Smith's home dimension was taken over by the extraterrestrial insect Ik Nobe Llok, who had no desire to hurt people. Although Murn was the worst person he could find, the butterfly still regretted the decision to inhabit his form, because he thought Murn was able to reform.
Gunn explained he aimed to demonstrate that contrast by writing a storyline where Murn was likewise a member of the Sons of Liberty in Earth-2.
"He was a hero. Whereas Murn on our planet was the most despicable man in the world before he was possessed, Murn on their planet was this kind of incredible Harriet Tubman," Gunn said. "Like a total action hero."
Gunn eventually cut that plotline from season 2, but he noted he's not fully giving up on it.
"There's still the future," he commented. "Earth-2 still exists. We left it intact. This still exists."
Although the team aren't in any hurry to go back to the world where the Nazis won World War II, Gunn's promise that it's still there means they might deal with repercussions for how they destroyed its incarnation of the Smith family. Harcourt attempted to murder the revenge-seeking and badly hurt Keith Smith (David Denman) before heading home, but had to escape through the portal when the police arrived. Auggie hinted at some kind of big plan involving the interdimensional gate before he was killed, and Keith might try to finish whatever that was. He'd also assuredly try to get revenge for his father and brother in the process.
Peacemaker season 2 is available on the streaming platform.
