The DCU Just Teased the Arrival of Its Next Major Villain

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While Lobo in the fold is sure to draw a lot of attention, he’s not the next DC villain that’s getting the red carpet treatment. That honor goes to a major Batman villain who’s getting a solo movie before the Dark Knight ever speaks a line in the DCU. The franchise is clearly ready to push all its chips into this basket, as it’s teasing the evildoer’s arrival in an unlikely location.

Peacemaker Isn’t Shying Away From Rick Flag Sr.’s Past

Christopher Smith is having a rough go of it in the DCU. After taking down the Butterflies in Peacemaker Season 1, he tries to turn over a new leaf by interviewing with the Justice Gang. But Maxwell Lord and his metahuman compadres don’t want anything to do with Chris, insulting him to his face. The only place Peacemaker can find solace from his troubles is in an alternate reality, where his brother and father are still alive. Everything is great for Chris in this new locale, but not everyone wants to see him happy. Back home, Rick Flag Sr. is working to get his hands on Peacemaker, seeking vengeance for the death of his son. John Economos is doing a good job of throwing A.R.G.U.S. off the scent, but Flag’s next recruit won’t be so flaky.

After his team fails to apprehend Peacemaker in his house, Flag pays Emilia Harcourt a visit in Season 2, Episode 4. It turns out she was much closer to the general’s son than she let on, and he wants to use that to his advantage. Before Flag can get down to brass tacks, though, Harcourt checks in on him because he was in the hospital. Neither Peacemaker nor Superman has shown him losing a fight, which means another DCU project holds the answer to the mystery. In Creature Commandos, Flag has a run-in with Clayface that leaves him worse for wear. The villain packs a serious punch, a fact that will become increasingly apparent in his 2026 solo movie.

Clayface Isn’t Going to Be One-and-Done in the DCU

Flag crosses path with Clayface while investigating Princess Ilana Rostovic, the acting leader of Pokolistan. To keep up her ruse, she has the shape-shifting character to pose as a college professor who’s actually dead. When Flag figures out the truth, Clayface goes nuts and beats the military man half to death. Eric Frankenstein saves his news friend’s life and helps take their enemy down. The end of the conflict makes it seem like Clayface is no more, but James Gunn and Co. aren’t done with him. A Clayface movie from James Watkins and Mike Flanagan is already filming, with Tom Rhys Harries nabbing the lead role.

Gunn hasn’t committed to the live-action Clayface being the same one from Creature Commandos, but he hasn’t ruled it out either. Suppose they do end up being the same character. In that case, it will mean Peacemaker has a direct connection to the movie, which should come as no surprise, since Gunn is already teasing that his show is acting as a prequel to the Superman follow-up Man of Tomorrow. Nothing is being done by accident in the DCU, so if Peacemaker says that the only appearance of Clayface up to this point is essential, then there’s no doubt that the character’s future in the franchise is far brighter than the dark alleyways he’ll be doing most of his fighting in come 2026.

Peacemaker Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.

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