The second season of “Peacemaker,” the DC Universe series created by James Gunn and starring John Cena, begins streaming on HBO Max on 21 August in the Americas and a day later in other regions. The eight-episode run picks up a few months after Gunn’s forthcoming “Superman” film and again follows anti-hero Christopher Smith as he confronts both inter-dimensional threats and the fallout from his past actions. Early critical reaction is uniformly positive. Reviewers from TechRadar, IGN and The Hollywood Handle say the new season preserves the show’s mix of irreverent humor, stylised violence and character-driven drama while expanding its multiverse storyline. The Hollywood Handle noted the season’s “spectacular” opening sequence set to Foxy Shazam’s “Oh, Lord,” and praised the dynamic between Cena’s Peacemaker and returning cast members Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma and Jennifer Holland. At publication time, the season holds a 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, signalling continued momentum for Gunn’s strategy of linking television and film projects within the rebooted DC Universe. Industry analysts view the strong reviews as an encouraging sign for Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform as it seeks to retain subscribers ahead of the peak autumn content cycle.