James Gunn on Lex Luthor’s Peacemaker Cameo and Its Consequences for the DCU

Spoilers ahead for Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 6.

James Gunn is no stranger to throwing curveballs at his audience, but the sixth episode of Peacemaker’s second season – titled “Ignorance is Chris” – might be one of his boldest yet. The episode gave fans a surprise cameo: Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, who appeared far more cold and calculating than the version seen in Gunn’s upcoming Superman: Man of Tomorrow. The scene left audiences buzzing, and Gunn himself insists the implications for the larger DCU are bigger than a fleeting Easter egg. In his words, the uneasy partnership between Lex Luthor and Rick Flag, Sr. is “consequential to the DCU.”

Let’s unpack what this all means, how Hoult’s darker turn as Lex fits into Gunn’s storytelling philosophy, and why this twist has ignited so much speculation about the future of DC on screen.

Lex Luthor’s Darker Edge in Peacemaker

Hoult’s portrayal of Lex here is stripped down, raw, and bruised – literally. With a limp and cane courtesy of Krypto the Superdog, this isn’t the smooth corporate mastermind we’re used to seeing. Instead, it’s a version of Luthor in a corner, licking his wounds while negotiating with Rick Flag for a shot at better prison conditions. Gunn explained the tonal difference as a reflection of Peacemaker’s gritty, naturalistic style compared to the heightened tone of Superman. “He just had his ass handed to him by a super dog,” Gunn said, emphasizing the vulnerability of this incarnation.

This divergence isn’t an accident. Gunn has long admired how comic books allow the same characters to be reframed under different creators, shifting tones and even moral contexts. By making Luthor appear darker and more defeated in Peacemaker, Gunn creates contrast with his role in Man of Tomorrow, where Lex and Superman will form an uneasy alliance against a greater cosmic threat. It’s not just a cameo; it’s planting seeds for long-term DCU storytelling.

The Consequential Partnership: Rick Flag Sr. and Lex Luthor

The real intrigue comes from the partnership itself. Rick Flag, Sr., desperate to locate Peacemaker and gain control over interdimensional portal technology, cuts a deal with Lex. On paper, it’s a typical devil’s bargain. In practice, Gunn insists it’s far more important. By explicitly calling their relationship “consequential to the DCU,” Gunn confirms this isn’t just a throwaway subplot but a foundational piece of how future films, including Man of Tomorrow, will connect.

Fans speculated that this could tie into the wider interdimensional storylines hinted at in Peacemaker, but Gunn pushed back slightly. While not making it the central pillar of Superman, he teased that audiences will learn much more about the Flag–Luthor connection by the end of Peacemaker’s season. Translation: don’t expect all the answers now, but brace yourself for some pivotal reveals soon.

Is the Limp a Clue for Power Armor?

The limp and cane sparked immediate speculation online: was this an excuse to introduce Lex’s iconic power armor in Man of Tomorrow? Gunn shot that down quickly. Yes, Krypto’s attack happened not long before this episode, but by the time Man of Tomorrow rolls around, Lex will be healed. His armor, if it appears, will be for more ambitious reasons than a lingering injury. Still, the image of a humbled Luthor leaning on a cane resonated with fans who rarely see the genius villain so physically compromised.

Fan Sleuths and the Hidden World of Earth X

Episode 6 also sparked another wave of conversation unrelated to Luthor: the chilling reveal of Earth X, a parallel world seemingly devoid of people of color. Internet sleuths caught on early, noting the absence of Black extras in crowd scenes and connecting it to Nazi-coded imagery. Gunn admitted he was surprised anyone picked up on it so fast. “Not a single person noticed it” during private screenings with diverse test audiences, he said, before it was spotted by viewers just two episodes in. The detail added a disturbing layer to the alternate world and showcased Gunn’s knack for embedding provocative subtext beneath his pulpy surface-level storytelling.

Spider-Man, Batman, and Meta Jokes

Gunn also leaned into his reputation for playful meta-references. Just as he once made Batman canon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe through a joke in Guardians of the Galaxy, he returned the favor by jokingly acknowledging Spider-Man in the DCU. “In the MCU, they voraciously read DC Comics. In the DCU, they love Marvel Comics,” Gunn quipped, reveling in the contradictions. It’s the kind of tongue-in-cheek humor that keeps his shows buzzing across Reddit threads and fan forums, even as the story itself plunges into darker material.

The Cold Open and the Melting Photo

The episode’s eerie cold open – featuring a melting family photo – also raised eyebrows. Was it a sinister hint at deeper mysteries? Gunn dismissed the notion of hidden lore, instead framing it as a tonal signal to the audience: the cute surface imagery belies something rotten underneath. “Everything here is not what we expect,” he explained, pointing toward Peacemaker’s signature mix of absurd humor and creeping dread.

What Comes Next

While Gunn was careful not to spoil Episode 7, he confirmed that the teased “mystery character” has already appeared in previews, undercutting hopes it might be an outlandish deep-cut like G.I. Robot. Still, he promised that the final stretch of episodes, especially Episode 8, will be some of the most rewarding work for comics diehards. “For the comics nerds too, man. Shit. Great,” he teased.

For all its bombast, Peacemaker continues to prove it can balance gut-punch humor, provocative social commentary, and genuine long-term DCU world-building. Hoult’s Lex cameo epitomizes that balance: an unexpected guest appearance that is less about fan service and more about reshaping the chessboard of future stories. With Gunn at the helm of DC Studios, no small detail feels inconsequential – and even a limping Luthor in a prison yard can reverberate across the entire cinematic universe.

Final Thoughts

Episode 6 is a reminder of why Gunn has earned both praise and criticism: he relishes poking at boundaries, layering in subtext, and blending humor with unease. Some viewers will find the darker threads repulsive, while others will celebrate the boldness. Either way, the conversation is exactly where Gunn wants it. Peacemaker isn’t just background noise in the DCU; it’s a linchpin shaping the stories to come. And if Gunn is right, the partnership between Rick Flag and Lex Luthor could end up being one of the most consequential twists in modern superhero storytelling.