James Gunn Cut a Major Plotline for Clemson Murn from the New Season
Chukwudi Iwuji's tough mercenary Clemson Murn met his end in Peacemaker season 1, but showrunner 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 himself even return to Peacemaker, mentioning a plot with major consequences for the series going forward.
[Editor's Note: Spoilers ahead for the latest episode, "Like a Keith in the Night."]
When reluctant hero Chris Smith (John Cena) and his friends visit Earth-X in Peacemaker season 2, they meet alternate versions of familiar faces from their home reality. Rick Flagg, Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) clumsily stumbles knocking over trash cans. Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) favors books and skirts to pants and brawling. And Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) fights to free 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 taken over by the extraterrestrial insect Ik Nobe Llok, who didn't want to harm any humans. Although Murn was the most terrible individual he could find, the butterfly still felt remorse to inhabit his form, because he thought Murn was able to reform.
Gunn explained he aimed to demonstrate that difference by writing a plot 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 was possessed, Murn on their planet was this kind of kick-ass Harriet Tubman," Gunn said. "A complete action hero."
Gunn eventually cut that storyline from season 2, but he noted he's not fully giving up on it.
"There's still the future," he commented. "Earth-2 still exists. We left it intact. This is still there."
Even if the Peacemaker crew aren't in any hurry to go back to the world where the Axis powers triumphed in World War II, Gunn's promise that it's remaining means they might deal with repercussions for how they destroyed its incarnation of the Smith family. Harcourt tried to kill the vengeful and seriously injured Keith Smith (David Denman) before returning to her world, but had to escape through the portal when the police arrived. Auggie hinted at some kind of big plan involving the interdimensional gate 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 while he's at it.
Peacemaker season 2 is available on HBO Max.
