The Director Cut a Significant Plotline for Chukwudi Iwuji's Character from the New Season
The actor's no-nonsense soldier of fortune Clemson Murn met his end in the show's first season, but showrunner James Gunn had earlier teased that he might bring Iwuji back to portray a different role in the DC Universe. During a recent episode of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, Gunn disclosed that Murn himself even return to Peacemaker, mentioning a plot with big implications for the series going forward.
[Editor's Note: Plot details follow for Peacemaker season 2, episode 7, "Like a Keith in the Night."]
When anti-hero Chris Smith (John Cena) and his friends travel to Earth-X in Peacemaker season 2, they encounter alternate versions of familiar faces from their home reality. Rick Flagg, Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) bumbles around knocking over trash cans. Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) prefers books and skirts to fighting and trousers. And Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) battles for the downtrodden as a member of the Sons of Liberty, rather than simply killing drug dealers and small-time lawbreakers.
Clemson Murn in Chris Smith's home dimension was taken over by the extraterrestrial insect Ik Nobe Llok, who had no desire to harm any humans. Even though Murn was the worst person he could find, the butterfly still felt remorse to take over his body, because he thought Murn was able to reform.
Gunn said he wanted to demonstrate that contrast by writing a storyline where Murn was likewise a part of the Sons of Liberty in Earth-2.
"He was a hero. Whereas Murn on our planet was the most despicable man in the world before he was possessed, Murn on their planet was this kind of incredible Harriet Tubman," Gunn stated. "Like a total action hero."
Gunn ultimately removed that storyline from the second season, but he said he's not completely abandoning on it.
"The future remains," he said. "Earth-2 still exists. We didn't blow it up. This still exists."
Even if the team aren't in any hurry to go back to the reality where the Nazis won World War II, Gunn's promise that it's remaining means they might deal with repercussions for how they wrecked its incarnation of the Smith family. Harcourt attempted to murder the revenge-seeking and badly hurt Keith Smith (David Denman) before heading home, but had to escape through the gateway when the police arrived. Auggie referenced some sort of major scheme involving the dimensional portal before he died, and Keith might try to finish that plan. He'd certainly try to get revenge for his family members while he's at it.
Peacemaker season 2 is available on HBO Max.
