Peacemaker unlike anything the DC Extended Universe has brought fans before, and in part because of the show’s main character. John Cena’s Christopher Smith is far from the stereotypical superhero. However, James Gunn was inspired by Captain America in 1979 when crafting his story.
DC’s Peacemaker Isn’t a Stereotypical Hero
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by James Gunn Peacemaker follows a vigilante believed to be willing to do anything for peace: John Cena’s Christopher Smith, first shown in The Suicide Squad.
Of course, the majority of viewers didn’t watch the 2021 DC movie and called Peacemaker a hero. Not only did he turn on his teammates, he killed someone who was trying to do the right thing. It quickly became apparent that morality did not factor into his overall goal. But despite this creed, Cristopher thinks he is a superior superhero to Superman or Batman.
And he has the costume, physical prowess, and values similar to other comic book heroes. It’s easy to see how he could be a more extreme – and crude – version of a character like Marvel’s Captain America. And according to James Gunn, he was inspired by the 1979 film Captain America Television film during the development of the Peacemaker story.
James Gunn’s DC Show Was Inspired By 1979’s ‘Captain America’
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Although Peacemaker and Captain America have very different personalities, they both claim similar values. You could even say that Christopher Smith is a more radical and vulgar version of the Marvel hero. And it seems James Gunn was partially inspired by Cap – not Chris Evans’ version, but the 1979 iteration.
During an appearance on Podly: The Peacemaker PodcastGunn recalled his appreciation for the 1979 Captain America Childhood TV movie and how it influenced the DCs Peacemaker:
“I loved the Captain America TV movie from my childhood. I’m like, ‘What would a really fucked up version of that look like?’ If you ever go back and see it, it’s terrible. But as a kid, I loved it. So, I’m like, ‘What in my brain was that show?’ Then you take that to an extreme place, and that’s Peacemaker.”
‘Different’ heroes like Peacemaker interest James Gunn
While Peacemaker may never be a hero like Captain America or Superman, that’s part of the appeal of the DC show for James Gunn. In addition to wanting to create a wilder version of Captain America TV movie, Gunn was drawn to what sets Peacemaker apart — even if those qualities aren’t necessarily likable.
“I’m interested in superheroes who are different,” Gunn explained, also pointing to Ratcatcher 2 and its unique powers. With Cena’s character, Gunn appreciates that he can relate to him and empathize with him without agreeing with his point of view:
“But Peacemaker is like, he’s kind of a bad guy. He’s kind of shit, but he’s got a point. He’s really right. So I can see where he’s coming from. And I can also think that he’s wrong, and that makes for an interesting character to me.
It’s a dance most viewers have been doing since the HBO Max series premiered. But there’s no denying that Christopher Smith is fascinating and entertaining to follow – sometimes even more so than a hero like Captain America.
New DC Episodes Peacemaker dropping every Thursday on HBO Max.
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