Peacemaker Season 2 is officially wrapped, airing its eighth and final episode on October 9th. The season has been a big hit for James Gunn and the cast, including Steve Agee, who plays John Economos. I had the opportunity to speak with the actor about his time in the DCU, his comic book knowledge (or lack thereof), and what to expect from the future of the DCU under James Gunn’s leadership.
John Cena stars as the titular anti-hero, but the strong supporting cast and ensemble are what truly elevate this series. Agee plays John Economos, a character who has become a fan-favorite recurring part of the DCU. This was my first time talking to the actor and comedian. He was enthusiastic, extremely easy to speak with, and joked that he’d dyed his beard earlier that day (a running joke from the first season). It may come as a surprise to most, but Agee was never a comic book reader.
“I’m like the least knowledgeable with all this comic book stuff and superhero stuff.” – Steve Agee
He says he had no prior knowledge of Peacemaker, and especially not of John Economos, before taking on the fan-favorite role. Originally, he was offered the opportunity to perform the motion capture for King Shark in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. He jokes he was offered the part because he’s Gunn’s tallest friend. Then, almost as an afterthought, Gunn told him about a small role of an analyst named Economos. It was intended to be a one-off part that evolved into the character it is today.
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Peacemaker Season 2 was shrouded in secrecy
Like many entries in the realm of comic book cinematic universes, Peacemaker Season 2 was shrouded in secrecy. Those of us reviewing the season were only provided with the first five episodes prior to its release. That secrecy even carried over to those acting in it. According to Agee, David Denman, who played Chris’ brother Keith, only received scripts for the episodes he was in. While Agee received the script for every episode, one major cameo was withheld.
“The whole script’s there, it’s just there are giant scenes that are completely blacked out.”– Steve Agee
Nicholas Hoult reprised his role as Lex Luther in episode six in a scene that Gunn has since revealed was filmed during the recording of Superman. In the scene, he’s imprisoned and speaking with Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) during a no-contact visit. The cameo was a welcome surprise.
A hilarious cast made staying in character difficult
The cast of Peacemaker is composed of talented actors with quick wit and razor-sharp comedic timing. According to Agee, it can be difficult for some actors to stay in character when dealing with such funny material. “Freddie (Stroma) breaks a lot. Danielle (Brooks) breaks a lot,” he reveals. He says he’s normally very good about staying in character, except when sharing a scene with one particularly funny actor.
“I was breaking a lot working with Tim Meadows.” – Steve Agee
Tim Meadows joined the cast as Langston Fleury, a man best remembered for his bird blindness, which makes it impossible to differentiate between different types of birds, and his hilarious interactions with Eagly. Agee told me that he’d had many friends embarrassingly admit to Googling whether bird blindness was a real condition or not after watching the episode. “Really? You think someone can’t tell the difference between a hummingbird or a duck? That’s crazy,” he laughed.
There isn’t a ton of room for improvisation. “Most of what you see is written,” Agee revealed. However, one particularly hilarious moment after the credits of the final episode featured Agee doing his best to come up with a joke on the spot. That moment is entirely improvised.
“You are really watching me struggle to think of a joke, and honestly fail.” – Steve Agee
The scene involved Economos attempting to create a distraction through awkward small talk with questions about sports and strange facts about lobsters. In the end, he resorts to telling a joke, but struggles to find the punchline. It’s hilariously awkward and a strangely satisfying way to end the season.
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Will we see more of John Economos?
Agee says that James Gunn isn’t done with these characters yet. He either didn’t know or couldn’t say in what capacity he would return, but he was certain his return was imminent. The season ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, with Peacemaker trapped in an alternate dimension meant to act as a prison for meta-humans. How he’ll escape or what he’ll find there remains uncertain, but according to James Gunn, the events of this season will lead directly into Man of Tomorrow, so maybe he’ll make an appearance there.
“You’re definitely going to see more of Economos.” – Steve Agee
If it were up to Agee, he would definitely share the screen with the DCU’s Batman. “I would love for Economos to somehow interact with Batman,” he said. The DCU’s Batman has yet to be cast, but there is no denying he’ll show up at some point. Seeing Economos and the Dark Knight share the screen is exactly what fans need, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
