"Peacemaker" Redeems Chris Smith, Elevates Obscure DC Character

As of November 1st, 2025, the DC series "Peacemaker" has achieved the unthinkable: It has redeemed Chris Smith (John Cena) after he killed Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) in "The Suicide Squad" and made fans care about a foul-mouthed C-grade DC character who wears a chromed toilet bowl as a helmet. This shouldn't come as a surprise, considering showrunner and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn's impressive track record of turning relative unknowns into franchise superstars, as evidenced by the success of "Guardians of the Galaxy."

The DC Universe is brimming with characters, but it's about striking the right balance in terms of where and how to feature them. Gunn has stated that he's "probably not going to do certain movies with characters who [audiences] don't know; it's harder to get people in the theater for that kind of thing." This suggests that the opportunity for certain DC characters to get their own series, like "Peacemaker" did, is a viable strategy.

While the likes of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are unlikely to lead their own series due to their blockbuster movie commitments, the door is open for other lesser-known DC characters to shine in their own small-screen adaptations. As the landscape of DC television continues to evolve, it's entirely possible that more unexpected names could be greenlit for their own shows in the near future.