‘Peacemaker’ has never shied away from chaotic humor, absurd tonal swings, or fourth-wall-adjacent irreverence. However, James Gunn almost took things to an unprecedented level in season 2. In what would have been the first live-action crossover between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the new DC Universe, Deadpool nearly made a surprise cameo in the show.
Yes, that Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool. And James Gunn himself confirmed it. While ‘Peacemaker’ season 2 featured a cheeky nod to Marvel via two Viglantes re-enacting the iconic Spider-Man pointing meme, the series came close to something far more consequential: dropping Deadpool into the QUC.
James Gunn Confirms Deadpool Cameo Was Planned For ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2
During an interview with Deadline, James Gunn said that one of the doors to alternate universes would have opened to reveal Deadpool sitting alone in a room. It wouldn’t have been a fight, a team-up, or a major plot beat, just a quick, unforgettable cameo. And the best part? Ryan Reynolds was up for it. “Yeah, I wanted them to open the door and see Deadpool in a room. I talked to Ryan Reynolds about it and we’d have had to go through some pretty, pretty big hoops to do that. He wanted to do it,” Gunn revealed.
Related: ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Twist Confirms Spider-Man Is Canon In DC Universe
“That’s all anybody’s going to talk about now is f*cking Deadpool in the other room.” It’s the kind of cameo that would have blown the internet sideways. Reynolds’ Deadpool is arguably the one Marvel character who could hop universes, break canon, and riff about licensing rights all in the same sentence. He’s exactly the type of character who could waltz through a DCU cameo without explanation and make it feel intentional.
And because Deadpool and Peacemaker both occupy the ultra-violent, R-rated end of superhero media, the tone would’ve matched perfectly. However, legal red tape, unsurprisingly, killed the dream. Cross-studio agreements between Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery aren’t exactly fast-tracked affairs. Even a five-second appearance would’ve sent lawyers into meltdown mode. Gunn couldn’t afford that kind of battle. Still, knowing that Gunn and Reynolds talked, and that both wanted to make it happen, leaves fans mourning the cameo that almost was.
James Gunn Has No Plans For ‘Peacemaker’ Season 3, But The Story Isn’t Over
As if fans weren’t reeling enough from the “Deadpool that could’ve been,” James Gunn also offered clarity on the future of the show itself and the news was bittersweet. ‘Peacemaker’ season 2 ended with a bold twist: Chris Smith is abducted and stranded on Salvation, a dimension being developed into a prison planet for metahumans. The finale was dark, ambitious, and very much a setup. Naturally, fans assumed season 3 would pick up from there.
In case you missed it: ‘Peacemaker’ Might Have Opened DCU To The Multiverse
Instead, Gunn has clarified that there are no current plans for Peacemaker season 3. “No, this is about the wider DCU and other stories in which this will play out right now. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be. I don’t want to never say never, but right now, no, this is about the future of the DCU. It’s an important character.” On one hand, it stings. Peacemaker was the first breakout success of the Gunn-Safran era, launching the tone and energy of the new DC Universe before the slate was officially announced.
Season 2 deepened the mythology and physically placed Peacemaker into DCU continuity. On the other hand, the decision makes sense. Gunn started writing and producing ‘Peacemaker’ before taking over DC Studios. Now, he’s building a connected universe where crossover storytelling is the priority. And instead of fading into irrelevance, Peacemaker has been folded into the DCU as a recurring piece of the puzzle. Moreover, Gunn has confirmed that Chris Smith will appear in future projects, even if not in his own show.
