James Gunn says a character from his Peacemaker series actually makes a surprise appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.On Twitter, the Vol. 3 writer-director and Peacemaker creator took some time to answer fan questions about the much-anticipated conclusion to the Guardians trilogy. One fan asked Gunn if an eagle spotted among the High Evolutionary's (Peacemaker's Chukwudi Iwuji) menagerie in the film was a reference to Eagly, the loyal sidekick of Christopher Smith/Peacemaker (John Cena). Gunn answered, "That was actually the real Eagly."
Who Is Eagly in Peacemaker?
Eagly was introduced in Peacemaker as the titular antihero's trained pet/best friend, and became an unlikely scene-stealer in the DC series. Gunn previously stated that Eagly was inspired by Jeff Guirdy's memoir An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship. The book delves into Guirdy's life going through cancer treatment while volunteering at a wildlife shelter, where he formed a bond with a bald eagle. Gunn initially planned to have a real bird play Eagly in Peacemaker, but found that the eagle "didn't seem too pleased about it," and instead used a CGI replica created by Weta Digital and voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.
The first season of Peacemaker premiered in Jan. 2022 and has since been praised for its performances, sense of humor and unique intro featuring the Peacemaker cast dancing to "Do Ya Wanna Taste It" by Wig Wam. A second season was ordered ahead of the Season 1 finale, but Season 2 isn't slated to arrive until after the film Superman: Legacy does in 2025. Gunn is both writing and directing Superman: Legacy for DC Studios' revamped DC Universe. Characters from Peacemaker are set to appear in other DCU projects though, with Viola Davis even headlining her own series as Suicide Squad handler Amanda Waller.
The Guardians of the Galaxy’s Hit New Movie and Future
Also featuring Peacemaker actor Jennifer Holland in addition to Iwuji, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 landed in theaters on May 5 and has similarly been a hit with critics and audiences alike, with some calling it the best of the Guardians trilogy. While the film hasn't been as much of a box office success as its pre-pandemic predecessor Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), it pulled in a domestic take of $114 million and global take of $282.1 million. Gunn has stated that Vol. 3 will be his last MCU project, as he is now helming DC Studios alongside co-CEO Peter Safran. However, Gunn has also stated that he's discussed the future of the Guardians with Marvel Studios, and shared his hopes that its heroes are in the MCU's future.
Season 1 of Peacemaker is available to stream on Max, while Season 2 does not have an official release date. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now playing in theaters.
Source: Twitter