DCU Teases Major Superhero Team Return with Salvation Run

The DC Universe (DCU) is poised for a significant shift with the introduction of a new superhero team, hinting at a crossover between popular characters. Following the developments in the latest season of Peacemaker, creator James Gunn appears to have laid the groundwork for an adaptation of the comic storyline “Salvation Run,” featuring a prison world for rogue metahumans.

In the season finale of Peacemaker Season 2, Rick Flag Sr., the director of ARGUS, collaborates with LuthorCorp to discover a seemingly deserted world. This new location, aptly named “Salvation,” is proposed as a dumping ground for troublesome metahumans, as existing facilities like Belle Reve and Arkham Asylum have struggled to contain them. The episode concludes with Flag capturing Chris Smith, also known as Peacemaker, making him the first inmate of this new prison world. The unexpected sounds emanating from the trees suggest that Salvation may not be as uninhabited as Flag presumed.

This storyline reflects the original “Salvation Run” arc from the comics, published in 2007, where Amanda Waller and Flag sought to eliminate supervillains by exiling them to a remote world. The narrative unfolded as the villains formed factions for survival, revealing that the world was actually a training ground for the parademon armies of Apokolips. This rich history suggests that Salvation will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the DCU.

Potential Return of The Suicide Squad

One intriguing possibility is that the adaptation of “Salvation Run” could pave the way for the return of The Suicide Squad. In the comics, Flag initially sends members of the Suicide Squad to capture supervillains, only to later exile them as well. This sets a compelling precedent for the DCU, allowing for a narrative where the surviving members of Task Force X are trapped on Salvation and must band together with Peacemaker to escape.

The isolation of this new world offers James Gunn the creative freedom to explore a survival story, rather than a conventional government-sanctioned mission. Fans may relish the opportunity to see John Cena‘s Peacemaker clash with Idris Elba‘s Bloodsport once more, alongside the return of beloved characters such as Margot Robbie‘s Harley Quinn and Sylvester Stallone‘s King Shark.

Additionally, the original “Salvation Run” story featured a diverse array of villains, suggesting that the DCU adaptation could introduce a wider cast by merging two key teams.

Crossover with Creature Commandos

Salvation could also serve as a backdrop for a crossover between Task Force X and Task Force M, known as the Creature Commandos. Frank Grillo‘s Rick Flag Sr. has already appeared in both the upcoming 2024 animated series “Creature Commandos” and in Peacemaker Season 2, acting as a crucial link between the live-action and animated realms. If Flag follows through on his plan to send incarcerated metahumans to Salvation, it may include members of the Creature Commandos, who have so far only been showcased in animated form.

A live-action adaptation of “Salvation Run” could introduce characters like G.I. Robot, played by David Harbour, as well as other members such as Indira Varma‘s Bride and Alan Tudyk‘s Doctor Phosphorus. Instead of launching straight into a Justice League film, the DCU could feature its first major crossover centered around its most unconventional heroes: the misfits and monsters that embody James Gunn‘s vision of “Gods and Monsters.”

With all these developments, the landscape of the DCU is set for an exciting evolution. The potential adaptation of “Salvation Run” offers a fresh narrative direction while reuniting iconic characters, providing fans with a glimpse into the franchise’s promising future.