James Gunn Cut a Significant Story Arc for Chukwudi Iwuji's Character from the New Season
Chukwudi Iwuji's tough mercenary Clemson Murn met his end in the show's first season, 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 the series' companion podcast, Gunn revealed that Murn could even return to Peacemaker, mentioning a plot with major consequences for the show's future.
[Editor's Note: Spoilers ahead for the latest episode, "The Keith Episode."]
When reluctant hero Chris Smith (John Cena) and his allies visit Earth-2 in Peacemaker season 2, they encounter alternate versions of several people from their home reality. 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.
The Murn in Chris Smith's original world was possessed by the extraterrestrial insect Ik Nobe Llok, who didn't want to harm any humans. Even though Murn was the worst person he could find, the butterfly still regretted the decision to inhabit his form, because he believed Murn was capable of change.
Gunn said he wanted to showcase that contrast by writing a storyline where Murn was also a part of the Sons of Liberty in Earth-2.
"He was a hero. While 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 kick-ass Harriet Tubman," Gunn said. "A complete action hero."
Gunn eventually cut that plotline from season 2, but he said he's not fully giving up on it.
"There's still the future," he commented. "There's still an Earth-2. We didn't blow it up. This is still there."
Although the team aren't in any hurry to return to the world where the Nazis won World War II, Gunn's promise that it's still there means they might face consequences for how they destroyed 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 portal when the police arrived. Auggie referenced some sort of big plan involving the interdimensional gate before he was killed, and Keith might attempt to complete that plan. He'd also assuredly try to avenge his father and brother while he's at it.
Peacemaker season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.
