HBO MaxPeacemaker Season 2 Episode 6 features a huge DCU cameo with major implications for the franchise’s future – and Van Kull could be a big tease for Man of Tomorrow.
Three things can be true: Peacemaker isn’t meant to be viewed by all audiences (the opening episode had an orgy, so it’s definitely not for kids), you don’t need to watch it before Man of Tomorrow, but Gunn has said that Season 2 will set up the next entry in the ‘Superman Saga.’
That set-up came in the form of an important cameo in Episode 6: Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, with Rick Flag meeting him in Belle Reve prison to ask for help finding Peacemaker in his alternate dimension.
In exchange for his cooperation, Flag told Sasha Bordeaux that Lex will be transferred to Van Kull prison.
What is Van Kull?
DCVan Kull is a maximum security prison located just outside Metropolis, according to the comics. It was first introduced in The Power Company: Bork #1 in 2002.
Now, this hasn’t always been the case. For example, in The CW’s Supergirl series, Van Kull was based in National City in California. However, given that Van Kull has been used as a bargaining chip with Lex, it’s safe to assume it’ll be closer to Metropolis than Belle Reve.
During his conversation with Flag, Lex moans about being locked up with other metahumans. “What if I can get you transferred to another prison?” Flag asks. “One with no metahumans.”
Related
They reach an agreement, with Lex (seemingly) being transferred to Van Kull and partnering with A.R.G.U.S. to find Chris.
How Van Kull sets up Man of Tomorrow
HBO MaxVan Kull and Lex Luthor’s cameo directly tees up Man of Tomorrow, which is expected to feature a team-up with Lex and Superman to face a bigger threat: Braniac.
Flag makes it perfectly clear: this is an “opportunity for redemption”, and if Lex agrees to ally himself (even temporarily) with Superman, he could gain even more power than he already had before he was arrested.
Speaking to The Ringer, Gunn said: “I think I’m just more interested in getting into the heart of Lex and seeing how he fits into all of this.
“I think getting to know more of Lex as a human being. I think we saw a lot about the evil part of Lex. He’s pretty evil. I think I just want to get to know… I think he, as a character, is really interesting. I think there’s something, despite everything, that is incredibly heroic about Lex.”
Man of Tomorrow will be released on July 9, 2027. In the meantime, keep tabs on the Peacemaker Season 2 soundtrack and find out why the original Vigilante was recast.