Due to the unexpected cancellation of Batgirl by Warner Bros., fans are worried about what could be next on the chopping block. Well, according to James Gunn, Peacemaker won't be one of them.After the series creator posted a photo of the casting board from The Suicide Squad on Twitter, a concerned fan commented, "Is Peacemaker Season 2 safe." Gunn simply responded, "Yes, guys, calm down." Gunn's comment affirms HBO Max's renewal for Peacemaker back in February, following the first season's strong ratings and critical response. Besides Marvel's The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the director is also working on several other projects for HBO Max related to The Suicide Squad. Reports surfaced earlier this year that one of these projects is an Amanda Waller spinoff, though Gunn has since tempered such rumors.
Regarding Peacemaker, the filmmaker's words are reassuring given how many cancellations have occurred at Warner Bros. of late. Since Discovery absorbed the company in May, several DC Extended Universe projects have been axed in various stages of development. The Arrowverse was significantly downsized thanks to the cancellations of Batwoman, Legends of Tomorrow, and, most recently, showcase series The Flash. The company also scrapped The Wonder Twins feature at HBO Max starring 1883's Isabel May and Riverdale's KJ Apa as well as Ava DuVernay's Naomi series.
However, none of these cancellations were as shocking as that of Batgirl. Initial reports said the film was canned due to poor test screenings, while others claimed the studio did so for the tax write-off. Warner Bros. released an official statement on the decision, simply citing a "strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max."
The studio is believed to have sunk between $70 and $100 million into the Batgirl feature before its unceremonious shelving. The film starred In the Heights breakout Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl and saw the return of J.K. Simmons' Commissioner Jim Gordon and Michael Keaton's Batman. Brendan Fraser was also attached as villain Ted Carson/Firefly. Bad Boys for Life directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were at the helm with a script from Christina Hodson, writer of Bumblebee, Birds of Prey, and 2023-scheduled film The Flash.
Understandably, fans are also worried about the fates of other DC properties planned for release on HBO Max, such as Blue Beetle and Black Canary. However, thanks to Gunn, Peacemaker can be scratched off that list.
Peacemaker is available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: Twitter