Peacemaker Season 3: Everything You Need to Remember About John Cena’s Antihero Before the New Season

Alright, Peacemaker Season 3 is almost here, and it’s time to strap in. Whether you’ve been riding with John Cena’s unhinged antihero since day one, or you barely remember what happened in the last season (hey, it’s been a while), we’ve got you covered. Here’s a no-nonsense, slightly emotional, and occasionally weird refresher on everything that’s gone down so far.

Who Exactly Is Peacemaker?

Peacemaker, played by WWE legend-turned-actor John Cena, is… complicated. Like, “I’ll kill anyone, anyone, for peace,” complicated. We first met him in 2021’s The Suicide Squad, where he made a chaotic, bloody entrance. On the surface, he’s a patriotic maniac with a shiny chrome helmet and no indoor voice. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a guy who’s wildly insecure, emotionally stunted, and, somehow, kind of endearing.

James Gunn, the twisted genius behind the show, once described him as “a piece of shit” but also “a broken person” trying to be better. Honestly? That sums him up perfectly.

Quick Recap: The Peacemaker Series So Far

Season 1 premiered in January 2022 on Max (then known as HBO Max), and it continued immediately after The Suicide Squad. Peacemaker survives the chaos in Corto Maltese only to get roped into another off-the-books mission: Project Butterfly. Alien parasites are trying to take over the world, and he’s forced to help stop them, with a team that’s just as dysfunctional as he is.

The show mixed brutal superhero action with laugh-out-loud moments and these unexpected gut punches of emotion. Classic James Gunn. It felt like watching a comic book fever dream… but somehow with therapy?

Character Growth (Yes, Really)

Now, we didn’t expect a ton of emotional depth from a guy who names his pet eagle “Eagly,” but Peacemaker surprised us. Across Seasons 1 and 2, he slowly unpacks a lifetime of trauma, especially from his father, the flat-out villainous Auggie Smith (played chillingly by Robert Patrick). Even after his death, Auggie’s ghost haunted Peacemaker… literally and metaphorically.

Season 2 leaned further into this emotional growth. Peacemaker started questioning his warped definition of “peace,” opened up more to the people around him, and even started forming actual human connections. Yeah, he still messed up a lot, but progress is progress.

And shoutout to the supporting cast. Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) brought heart, Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) brought absolute chaos, Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) kept things grounded, and Economos (Steve Agee) gave us some of the show’s best quiet moments.

You can catch up with all the main characters and new developments.

Tying into the Bigger DC Universe

With James Gunn now steering the whole DC ship (RIP DCEU, hello DCU), Peacemaker officially sits within the new canon. Season 2 gave us subtle clues about the shift, but Season 3 is expected to lean even harder into the evolving DCU. That means potential cameos, crossovers, or, at the very least, more hints at where things are going.

Peacemaker might just be the reluctant bridge between the old chaos and the new order.

What’s Next in Peacemaker Season 3?

Details are hush-hush, but if the past two seasons are anything to go by, expect more insane villains, gross alien tech, hilarious banter, and Peacemaker learning (probably the hard way) that peace isn’t something you enforce—it’s something you earn.

James Gunn is still in charge, so you already know it’ll be bold, unpredictable, and emotionally sneaky.

Why It’s Worth Watching (Again)

Let’s be real, Peacemaker isn’t your average superhero show. It’s bloody, funny, messed up, and yet strangely wholesome. John Cena nails the role with this wild blend of frat-boy humor and real vulnerability. One minute you’re laughing at a poop joke, the next you’re quietly devastated by a flashback to his childhood. It shouldn’t work, but it does.

So if you haven’t watched it, now’s the time. And if you have? Watch it again. There are layers, man.

Final Thoughts

Peacemaker started as a joke character with a gun and a toilet seat for a helmet. But thanks to Gunn’s vision and Cena’s performance, he’s become one of the most interesting (and oddly relatable) figures in the DC world. Season 3 promises to push that journey even further, and if you’ve been paying attention, you know that’s gonna be a wild ride.