Peacemaker TV series greenlit by HBO Max

HBO Max has greenlit a TV series following Peacemaker, played by John Cena in The Suicide Squad.

According to Coming Soon, HBO Max has ordered a spin-off series based on Peacemaker, played by WWE superstar and legend John Cena who plays the character in The Suicide Squad, which is currently wrapping up production.

HBO Max has ordered an eight-episode season with Gunn at the helm, writing for the entire series but directly for only a few of them. The series will be the origins of Cena’s character following his cinematic debut in 2021.

Peacemaker will stream on HBO Max alongside other former DC Universe shows like Doom Patrol, Harley Quinn, Swamp Thing, Stargirl and Young Justice. The service also recently ordered a spin-off series following Robert Pattison’s Batman.

Cena will be a co-executive producer with Gunn and The Suicide Squad producer Peter Safran as executive producers. It will begin filming in early 2021 before Gunn begins his work on his next Guardians of the Galaxy project.

Peacemaker’s first appearance was in Fightin’ 5 #40, created by writer Joe Gill and designed by artist Pat Boyette. Peacemaker also joins the Watchmen in their sequel series Doomsday Clock fighting Dr.Manhattan on Mars.

The Peacemaker’s identity is Christopher Smith, someone so committed to peace that he uses force to advance the cause. Smith faces dictators and warlords with an arsenal of non-lethal weapons.

Smith’s father kills himself when his secrets and past as the commander of a Nazi concentration camp during the war surface. This trauma caused Smith to be an aggressive child and he started having visions, even speaking with the ghost of his father.

At the age of 18, he joined the military and deployed into Vietnam. After receiving false intel from his superiors, Smith accidentally slaughters an entire village full of innocent civilians. As a result, he is sentenced to 20 years in prison before eventually receiving parole.

Smith joined the Peacemaker force and became a super-soldier of sorts with advanced training. After being released, Smith creates the Pax Institute, a charity dedicated to helping veterans and war victims. Smith was committed to keeping peace through his charity and his vigilante escapades. Smith’s mental health gets worst and worst as the ghost of his father pushes him to be more and more extreme.

During Crisis on Infinite Earth’s, Smith fights alongside Cyborg, Wildcat, and others against Anti-Monitor’s Shadow-Demons. While fighting in Philadelphia, Smith suffers a head injury, pushing him into insanity.

In Peacemaker Vol.2 #1, Peacemaker has the following quote about fighting for justice:

"“I’m Peacemaker. And I’ll kill to keep the peace.”"