James Gunn Cut a Significant Plotline for Chukwudi Iwuji's Character from the New Season
Chukwudi Iwuji's no-nonsense soldier of fortune Clemson Murn met his end in Peacemaker season 1, but creator James Gunn had earlier teased that he might bring Iwuji back to play another character in the DC Universe. During a recent episode of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, Gunn disclosed that Murn could even make a comeback, referencing a storyline with major consequences 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 allies travel to Earth-X in the new season, they encounter alternate versions of several people from their own world. Rick Flagg, Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) bumbles around overturning trash cans. Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) prefers books and skirts to fighting and trousers. And Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) fights to free 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 alien butterfly 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 believed Murn was able to reform.
Gunn said he wanted to demonstrate that difference by writing a plot where Murn was also a member of the Sons of Liberty in Earth-2.
"He was a hero. Whereas Murn on our planet was the worst guy in the world before he was possessed, Murn on their planet was this sort of incredible Harriet Tubman," Gunn said. "A complete action hero."
Gunn eventually cut that storyline from season 2, but he said he's not fully giving up on it.
"The future remains," he said. "Earth-2 still exists. We didn't blow it up. This still exists."
Although the Peacemaker crew aren't in any hurry to go back to the world 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 tried to kill the revenge-seeking and seriously injured Keith Smith (David Denman) before returning to her world, but had to flee through the gateway when the police arrived. Auggie referenced some kind of big plan involving the dimensional portal before he was killed, and Keith might attempt to complete that plan. He'd certainly try to avenge his father and brother while he's at it.
Peacemaker season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.
