James Gunn Removed a Major Story Arc for Chukwudi Iwuji's Character from the New Season
Chukwudi Iwuji's tough mercenary 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 DCU. During a recent episode of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, Gunn disclosed that Murn himself even make a comeback, referencing a plot with big implications for the series going forward.
[Editor's Note: Plot details follow for the latest episode, "The Keith Episode."]
When reluctant hero Chris Smith (John Cena) and his allies travel to Earth-X in the new season, they meet alternate versions of familiar faces from their own world. Rick Flagg, Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) bumbles around knocking over trash cans. Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) prefers books and skirts to pants and brawling. And Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) battles for the downtrodden as a member of the Sons of Liberty, rather than simply killing drug dealers and petty criminals.
Clemson Murn in Chris Smith's original world was possessed by the extraterrestrial insect Ik Nobe Llok, who had no desire to hurt people. Even though Murn was the most terrible individual he could find, the butterfly still regretted the decision to inhabit his form, because he believed Murn was able to reform.
Gunn explained he aimed to demonstrate that contrast by writing a plot where Murn was likewise a member of the Sons of Liberty in the alternate world.
"He served as a champion. While Murn on our planet was the worst guy in the world before he became a butterfly, Murn on their planet was this sort of incredible Harriet Tubman," Gunn said. "A complete action hero."
Gunn eventually cut that plotline from season 2, but he noted he's not fully giving up on it.
"The future remains," he commented. "There's still an Earth-2. We didn't blow it up. This is still there."
Even if the team aren't rushing to go back to the reality where the Nazis won World War II, Gunn's promise that it's still there means they might deal with repercussions for how they destroyed its incarnation of the Smith family. Harcourt tried to kill the revenge-seeking and badly hurt Keith Smith (David Denman) before heading home, but had to flee through the portal when the police arrived. Auggie hinted at some kind of major scheme involving the dimensional portal before he died, and Keith might attempt to complete that plan. He'd certainly try to avenge his father and brother in the process.
Peacemaker the new season is streaming on the streaming platform.
