Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Peacemaker season 1, episode 8, "It's Cow or Never"

James Gunn teases there's a good reason why Batman doesn't appear in the Peacemaker season 1 finale alongside his Justice League team. Ben Affleck first brought the Dark Knight to life for the DC Extended Universe in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and carried the role on with a cameo appearance in Suicide Squad as well as the theatrical cut of Justice League and Zack Snyder's extended edition. The Oscar winner had originally elected to step down from the DCEU due to various health concerns and creative frustrations on the set of Justice League, though he is donning the cape and cowl one more time for The Flash to close out his time in the franchise.

Peacemaker serves as the first spinoff of Gunn's The Suicide Squad centered on John Cena's titular character, a jingoistic killer offered a chance at freedom by Amanda Waller in exchange for conducting dangerous missions for the government. The series sees him and A.R.G.U.S. agents John Economos and Emilia Harcourt, Waller's daughter Leota Adebayo, crimefighter Vigilante and mercenary Clemson Murn tasked with targeting human hosts for parasitic butterfly-like aliens with seemingly sinister plans for the planet. The Peacemaker season 1 finale included a number of jaw-dropping moments, including the defeat of the alien butterflies and the late arrival of the Justice League, though many have noticed a couple of key members were missing.

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Gunn sat down with Variety to break down some of the biggest moments from the Peacemaker season 1 finale. When asked about the Justice League cameo and why Batman and Cyborg don't appear alongside them, the writer/director teased that there's a very good reason for it, though was careful in what he could share. See what Gunn said below:

"You know, I don’t know what I can — there are reasons for it, but I’m actually uncertain whether I can say what those reasons are. It might have to do with future stuff."

Peacemkaer Justice League Cameo Shadows

As Gunn notes, the reason behind Batman's absence in the Peacemaker season 1 finale's Justice League cameo largely stems from DC and Warner Bros.' future DCEU plans. Following Affleck's departure from the role, Batman's role in the DCEU was largely left unknown until both he and Michael Keaton were confirmed to return in The Flash, with many speculating at the time that the film would serve as a passing back of the torch as Keaton takes over the position for the franchise. Though WB hasn't officially confirmed as such, Keaton is indeed returning for Batgirl as well, which is set in the DCEU as J.K. Simmons also returns as Commissioner Jim Gordon.

While Gunn doesn't explicitly say Batman and Cyborg in his comments for the Peacemaker season 1 finale, his notes of their absence for future plans may bring some fans hope that the studio is leaving the door open for Ray Fisher's return as Cyborg down the line, should he and WB find a way to mend their relationship. Their absences may also point towards a clue as to where the show sits in the DCEU timeline, with many having speculated that it takes place after the events of The Flash and its soft franchise reboot. While audiences await the answers to their questions in The Flash coming in November, they can catch up with Peacemaker season 1 streaming in its entirety on HBO Max now.

More: Peacemaker Is Set After Flashpoint's DCEU Reboot - Theory Explained

Source: Variety

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