Director James Gunn has revealed that he stepped in to prevent HBO Max from sending out the eighth episode of Peacemaker to critics ahead of last week’s series debut. Following directly on from the events depicted in The Suicide Squad, Gunn’s new spin-off series sees John Cena reprise his role as muscle-bound and morally ambiguous vigilante Christopher Smith a.k.a. Peacemaker. The first DC television series directly connected to Warner Bros. big-screen DCEU, the first three hilarious episodes premiered on HBO Max on January 13.
After recovering from being shot by Idris Elba’s Bloodsport in The Suicide Squad, Cena’s Peacemaker soon finds himself wrapped up in another A.R.G.U.S. operation dubbed “Project Butterfly.” Joining Cena in his efforts are his The Suicide Squad co-stars Steve Agee and Jennifer Holland as John Economos and Emilia Harcourt. Meanwhile, his new team is rounded out by Orange Is the New Black’s Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo, and Chukwudi Iwuji as Clemson Murn, a brutal mercenary in charge of the operation. Cena’s antihero is also joined by Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante, an eager young crime-fighter who idolizes the former Task Force X team member.
Prior to the series' debut, HBO Max sent out the first seven episodes of the eight-episode season to critics, generating a great deal of positive buzz and acclaim. In a recent interview with Collider, Gunn was asked why the season’s finale was withheld, and Gunn revealed that he made the decision in order to prevent spoilers from leaking online. Citing the eighth episode as his favorite in the series, he suggested that “just too many things happen in episode eight that I just could not let it get out there”. Check out his full comments below:
I wouldn't let them put out eight. They wanted to put out all eight. I said, "No way. No chance in hell are we putting out all eight." There's just too many things happen in episode eight that I just could not let it get out there. It would absolutely be spoiled. You know, I wouldn't even let them give it to one place or anything like that because it just wasn't... I didn't want it to be out there.
Online spoilers are becoming an increasing issue for filmmakers, as social media makes it harder than ever for eager fans to avoid learning too much before they get a chance to see films and shows for themselves. Last year fans were incensed when the Eternals post-credit scene featuring Harry Styles as Eros, brother of Thanos, was posted online within hours of the Los Angeles world premiere. Meanwhile, herculean attempts at keeping a lid on the plot details for Spider-Man: No Way Home were almost ruined when reality TV personality Kim Kardashian posted spoilers on her Instagram account.
Gunn’s decision to keep the season finale tightly under wraps is undoubtedly a smart move and one which will probably also generate a lot of theorizing among the DC fanbase. With Gunn also working on another DC television project but remaining tight-lipped about what characters it may involve, there is probably a very good chance that the Peacemaker season one finale will serve to set up this new show. Thankfully fans won’t have to wait long, with the remaining five episodes planned to drop each week up until the season finale on February 17.
Source: Collider
