James Gunn is addressing the reactions to a controversial storyline in the second season of his DCU series, Peacemaker. The sixth episode of the season revealed that Earth X, an alternate universe, is one where Nazi Germany won World War II. This revelation has sparked conversation online, with some critics labeling Gunn as "polarizing".
Gunn has responded to the backlash, particularly from those he identifies as racists. "I have a few racists that have called me polarizing, but I'm okay with being polarizing and letting racists fall to the wayside," Gunn told GQ. He also noted the positive reception to the episode, stating, "People have loved this episode the most, so it's exciting".
The episode's plot involves the discovery that in this alternate reality, the United States flag bears a swastika, and people of color are oppressed. Adebayo, played by Danielle Brooks, experiences the terror of existing in a world where her presence evokes fear. Gunn worked closely with Brooks to ensure the story was handled appropriately.
Gunn acknowledged the sensitivity of the subject matter, which deals with racism while also incorporating humor. "We're dealing with a very sensitive subject. We're dealing with racism and, at the same time, there's humor in this episode," Gunn explained. "And so, you're dealing with something very delicate and yet we're not being delicate about it—but I don't think we're not being delicate in a non-thoughtful way. We're being thoughtful about it".
The Peacemaker creator also revealed that the episode faced internal pushback before its release. "We got a lot of pushback from various sources within the structure, on this episode in particular," Gunn said. However, he stood firm, stating, "Let's not be bashful about this. Let's just do the story that we want to do and I don't want to have to pull punches with it".
Gunn even conducted private test screenings to gauge audience reactions to the clues hinting at the Nazi-controlled reality of Earth X. One clue was the absence of people of color in that universe. Gunn noted that no one, including people of color in the test audiences, initially noticed this detail.
Some viewers have pointed out potential hidden details in the episode, such as the design of mailboxes resembling Ku Klux Klan white crosses. Gunn admitted he had not noticed this, giving credit to the show's production designers for the subtle and haunting detail.
The Earth X storyline was not part of Gunn's original plan for the season. He initially considered a plot involving Emilia Harcourt going undercover with Nazis but ultimately felt it wasn't the right direction.
The Peacemaker controversy also extended to the video game Fortnite, where a "Peacemaker Emote" was removed due to potential Nazi symbolism. The emote, based on a dance from the show's opening sequence, allegedly featured arm movements resembling a swastika. Epic Games removed the emote after the allegations surfaced. Gunn has not commented on the Fortnite situation.
Despite the controversies, Gunn remains committed to pushing boundaries and tackling sensitive subjects in his work. He believes in taking chances and exploring themes that others might shy away from.
