Peacemaker’s surprise cameo originally included more characters
The first season of the DC series Peacemaker on HBO has come to an end.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains spoilers and plot details for HBO's Peacemaker Season 1 finale.
The eighth and final episode of season one, titled “It's Cow Or Never,” dropped last Thursday (Feb. 17), wrapping up Peacemaker's and the rest of the ragtag gang's mission to stop the alien Butterflies.
The season concluded with Peacemaker (John Cena) and his teammates—Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), John Economos (Steve Agee) and team leader Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland)—tracking the Butterflies to the underground lair where the “cow” which provides the aliens’ only source of sustenance is being prepared for teleportation.
After the epic battle concluded, Peacemaker and the gang marched away, with Chris carrying an unconscious Harcourt in his arms.
Suddenly, with a crackle of electricity, who would appear in their path but four members of the Justice League themselves, arriving too late for the party.
Superman and Wonder Woman were portrayed in the shadows by stand-ins, no doubt due to Henry Cavill's and Gal Gadot’s busy schedules, but Jason Momoa and Ezra Miller briefly reprised their roles as Aquaman and The Flash, respectively, with some humorous quips about Aquaman's love life.
The uncredited stunt performer standing in for Wonder Woman is Kimberley von Ilberg, who revealed a behind-the-scenes look at her Peacemaker cameo on Instagram.
Meanwhile, the Man of Steel was portrayed by actor Brad Abramenko who shared a selfie behind-the-scenes revealing the suit that was used in the show's season finale, which is similar to the design worn by Henry Cavill's Superman throughout the DCEU.
The fact that major superheroes in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) showed up in The Suicide Squad spin-off series was a surprise twist in itself, but many fans wondered why a silhouetted Batman and Cyborg didn’t show up as well.
A model/actor named Matt Turner has claimed on social media that he worked on Peacemaker as a stand-in for the Dark Knight in that scene, and that there was a Cyborg double as well, but their appearances seem to have been cut out.
Turner shared photos of him in the Ben Affleck-era tactical suit, writing, “After that epic Peacemaker finale I can finally post this. Sadly I (and Cyborg) were cut from the final edit. Why? Only James Gunn and Warner Bros. know.”
Peacemaker series creator James Gunn gave a cryptic hint about Batman and Cyborg’s absence following the finale.
Speaking to Variety, Gunn said: “You know, I don’t know what I can... There are reasons for [their absences], but I’m actually uncertain whether I can say what those reasons are. It might have to do with future stuff.”
Robert Pattinson will be headlining The Batman, the Matt Reeves film coming out in less than two weeks, and his version exists in a separate reality from DC’s Justice League and the Synder Cut.
However, this November’s The Flash will see Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton reprising their respective versions of the Caped Crusader.
Cyborg, who was played in Justice League by Ray Fisher, previously made numerous allegations about his mistreatment during that production. Fisher has stated that he would not participate in any future project under DC Films president Walter Hamada due to what happened during the Joss Whedon-helmed reshoots on Justice League.
Fans of the HBO Max series will have more to look forward to in the future. Peacemaker has been renewed for a second season with James Gunn returning to write and direct all of Season 2’s episodes, and another James Gunn helmed Suicide Squad spin-off series is in the works as well.
In the meantime, here's a nine-minute long blooper reel from Peacemaker, recently shared by Gunn for fans to enjoy.
Have a great President’s Day weekend. Here’s a gift from Team Peacemaker - the official #Peacemaker gag reel ? @HBOMax @DCpeacemaker pic.twitter.com/Zs2gYCfNUf
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 19, 2022