The Director Removed a Significant Plotline for Chukwudi Iwuji's Character from the New Season
Chukwudi Iwuji's tough soldier of fortune Clemson Murn met his end in Peacemaker season 1, but showrunner James Gunn had previously hinted that he might recast the actor to portray a different role in the DCU. During a recent episode of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, Gunn revealed that Murn himself even return to Peacemaker, referencing a storyline with big implications for the show's future.
[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 very different versions of familiar faces from their home reality. Rick Flagg, Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) clumsily stumbles knocking over trash cans. Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) prefers books and skirts to pants and brawling. And Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) fights to free the downtrodden as a part of the Sons of Liberty, rather than just murdering 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 didn't want to hurt people. Even though Murn was the most terrible individual he could find, the butterfly still regretted the decision to take over his body, because he believed Murn was capable of change.
Gunn explained he aimed to demonstrate that contrast by writing a storyline where Murn was likewise a part of the Sons of Liberty in Earth-2.
"He served as a champion. Whereas Murn on our planet was the most despicable man in the world before he became a butterfly, Murn on their planet was this kind of incredible Harriet Tubman," Gunn stated. "A complete action hero."
Gunn ultimately removed that storyline from the second season, but he noted he's not fully giving up on it.
"There's still the future," he commented. "Earth-2 still exists. We didn't blow it up. This is still there."
Although 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 face consequences for how they wrecked its version of the Smith family. Harcourt attempted to murder the vengeful and badly hurt Keith Smith (David Denman) before heading home, but had to escape through the portal when the police arrived. Auggie referenced some kind of major scheme involving the dimensional portal before he was killed, and Keith might try to finish whatever that was. He'd certainly try to get revenge for his father and brother in the process.
Peacemaker season 2 is streaming on the streaming platform.
