James Gunn Cut a Major Story Arc for Chukwudi Iwuji's Character from Peacemaker Season 2

Chukwudi Iwuji's no-nonsense mercenary Clemson Murn met his end in Peacemaker season 1, but creator James Gunn had earlier teased that he might bring Iwuji back to play another character in the DCU. During a recent episode of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, Gunn revealed that Murn himself even return to Peacemaker, mentioning a storyline with major consequences for the series going forward.

[Editor's Note: Spoilers ahead for the latest episode, "The Keith Episode."]

When reluctant hero Chris Smith (John Cena) and his allies visit Earth-X in the new season, they meet very different versions of familiar faces from their home reality. Rick Flagg, Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) clumsily stumbles knocking over trash cans. Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) favors books and skirts to pants and brawling. And Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) fights to free the oppressed 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 alien butterfly Ik Nobe Llok, who had no desire to hurt people. Although Murn was the most terrible individual he could find, the butterfly still regretted the decision to inhabit his form, because he believed Murn was able to reform.

Gunn explained he aimed to demonstrate that contrast by creating a plot where Murn was also a member of the Sons of Liberty in the alternate world.

"He served as a champion. Whereas Murn on our planet was the most despicable man in the world before he was possessed, Murn on their planet was this sort of kick-ass Harriet Tubman," Gunn stated. "A complete action hero."

Gunn ultimately removed that plotline from season 2, but he said he's not completely abandoning on it.

"There's still the future," he commented. "Earth-2 still exists. We left it intact. This is still there."

Although the team aren't rushing to go back to the reality where the Axis powers triumphed in World War II, Gunn's promise that it's remaining means they might face consequences for how they destroyed its version of the Smith family. Harcourt tried to kill the vengeful and badly hurt Keith Smith (David Denman) before heading home, but had to escape through the gateway when the authorities showed up. Auggie hinted at some kind of major scheme involving the interdimensional gate before he was killed, and Keith might attempt to complete that plan. He'd also assuredly try to get revenge for his family members in the process.

Peacemaker the new season is available on HBO Max.