Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Phone Insights Phone Best Picks Phone Deals Phone Face-Offs Phone How-Tos Phone Reviews Network Carriers Android Phones Google Phones Motorola Phones OnePlus Phones Samsung Phones Nothing Phone TV Best Picks TV Face-Offs Audio Insights Audio Best Picks Audio Deals Audio Face-Offs Audio How-Tos Audio Reviews Over-Ear Headphones Bluetooth Speakers Smart Speakers TV & Audio Brands Entertainment Streaming Devices Prime Video Paramount Plus PlayStation Handheld Gaming Gaming Peripherals Connections Computing Insights Computing Best Picks Computing Deals Computing Face-Offs Computing How-Tos Computing News Computing Reviews VPN Best Picks VPN Face-Offs VPN How-Tos VPN Reviews Operating Systems Identity Theft Protection Parental Controls Malware & Adware Virtual Reality Augmented Reality Smart Glasses Chromebooks Gaming Laptops Apple Desktops Gaming Desktops Android Tablets Computing Brands AI Insights AI Best Picks AI Face-Offs Google Gemini Apple Intelligence Mattress Best Picks Mattress Deals Mattress Face-Offs Mattress How-Tos Mattress News Mattress Reviews Mattress Care Mattress Toppers Pillows & Bedding Smartwatches Fitness Trackers Smart Rings Apple Watch Home Insights Home Best Picks Home Face-Offs Home How-Tos Home Reviews Home Topics Home Appliances Home Office Home Security Home Brands Popular Brands View Phones Phone Insights Phone Best Picks Phone Deals Phone Face-Offs Phone How-Tos Phone Reviews Network Carriers View Network Carriers Android Phones View Android Phones Google Phones Motorola Phones OnePlus Phones Samsung Phones Nothing Phone TV Best Picks TV Face-Offs Audio Insights View Audio Insights Audio Best Picks Audio Deals Audio Face-Offs Audio How-Tos Audio Reviews Headphones View Headphones Over-Ear Headphones View Speakers Bluetooth Speakers Smart Speakers TV & Audio Brands Entertainment View Entertainment View Streaming Streaming Devices Prime Video Paramount Plus View Gaming PlayStation Handheld Gaming Gaming Peripherals Word Games Connections View Computing Computing Insights Computing Best Picks Computing Deals Computing Face-Offs Computing How-Tos Computing News Computing Reviews VPN Best Picks VPN Face-Offs VPN How-Tos VPN Reviews View Hardware View Software Operating Systems View Security Identity Theft Protection Parental Controls Malware & Adware View VR & AR Virtual Reality Augmented Reality Smart Glasses View Laptops Chromebooks Gaming Laptops View Desktops Apple Desktops Gaming Desktops View Tablets Android Tablets Computing Brands AI Insights AI Best Picks AI Face-Offs AI Engines Google Gemini Apple Intelligence View Wellness Mattresses View Mattresses Mattress Best Picks Mattress Deals Mattress Face-Offs Mattress How-Tos Mattress News Mattress Reviews Mattress Care Mattress Toppers Pillows & Bedding View Fitness Smartwatches Fitness Trackers Smart Rings Apple Watch Home Insights Home Best Picks Home Face-Offs Home How-Tos Home Reviews Home Topics Home Appliances Home Office Home Security View Outdoors Home Brands Popular Brands Pixel 10 Launch LIVE The World in 2035 Wordle Today Galaxy Z Fold 7 Best laptops Best Mattress Recommended reading When is 'Superman' streaming? Here's our best guess New on HBO Max in August 2025 — all the new shows and movies to watch New on HBO Max in June 2025 — all the new shows and movies to watch 20 new shows and movies to watch in August 2025 on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more Prime Video 'Fallout' season 2 — release date revealed, new trailer, cast and more I was worried about 'The Sandman' season 2 — but the first episode proved me wrong 9 top new movies and shows to stream this weekend on HBO Max, Netflix and more (May 30-June 1) Entertainment 'Peacemaker' star reveals if you need to watch 'Superman' before season 2 Malcolm McMillan 21 August 2025 The answer is more nuanced than you might expect When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: HBO Max) "Peacemaker" season 2 is premiering on HBO Max —and only HBO Max — tonight (Aug. 21) at 9 p.m. ET with a one-episode premiere. It's been about three years since we last saw John Cena's titular antihero on the small screen in season 1, though we finally got our first season 2 trailer back in May of this year. However, Peacemaker has made an important appearance in the DCU since season 1 wrapped up, in James Gunn's "Superman" movie that came out on July 11. I think just based on what we're dealing with [in episode 1], it definitely wouldn't hurt. I mean, it would probably help, to be honest. But I think you could probably go into season 2 having only seen season 1.Steve Agee on watching "Superman" before "Peacemaker" I won't spoil what happens in that appearance, since there's a chance you haven't seen the movie yet. But when I got a chance to sit down with "Peacemaker" star Steve Agee, who plays A.R.G.U.S. agent John Economos, last seen working at the notorious Belle Reve Penitentiary, I had to ask him if he felt it was necessary to have seen "Superman" before hitting play on "Peacemaker" season 2. "I don't think you would need to," Agee said after a moment to consider the question. "I think just based on what we're dealing with [in episode 1], it definitely wouldn't hurt. I mean, it would probably help, to be honest. But I think you could probably go into season 2 having only seen season 1." You may like When is 'Superman' streaming? Here's our best guess New on HBO Max in August 2025 — all the new shows and movies to watch New on HBO Max in June 2025 — all the new shows and movies to watch I then asked him if "Peacemaker" season 1 was, in fact, must-see TV. That seems like a dumb question at face value, but you have to remember that, technically, "Peacemaker" season 1 is part of Zack Snyder's DC Expanded Universe. While James Gunn was the showrunner, it wasn't part of the new DC Universe he's established since taking over as DC Studios co-CEO with Peter Safran, so until an event from "Peacemaker" season 1 occurs in a DCU show or movie, it's as if it never happened. "I think so, yeah," Agee responded wryly when I asked about watching season 1 before season 2. "And if you're watching season 2, then clearly you have HBO Max, so you can also easily watch season 1." 'Peacemaker' does a good job of telling you what you need to know Peacemaker Season 2 | Official Trailer | HBO Max - YouTube Having watched the first five episodes of "Peacemaker" season 2 before I watched "Superman," I can confirm that Mr. Agee is correct. You don't need to have watched "Superman" or Cena's cameo in it to understand what's going on in this new season of "Peacemaker," though it definitely provides context as to why what Peacemaker is doing in the first few episodes of season 2 is such a problem to everyone else. But the show does a good job of holding your hand without hitting you over the head with exposition. You don't know exactly why something from "Superman" might be relevant, but you can deduce the gist of it. Again, without spoiling anything, there's a reference made to a "Superman incident," and having now seen "Superman," I know the incident in question and it was totally fine that I didn't know about it before I started watching the season 2 premiere of "Peacemaker." Gunn's writing managed to get me the information I needed, regardless of whether I was a DCU completionist or not. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. HBO Max: $9.99 at HBO Max HBO Max gives you tons of hit shows and movies, from HBO originals shows to DCU movies and more, including "Peacemaker" season 2. Honestly, the only thing I found that watching "Superman" really cleared up was what supergroup is being formed by some of Earth's heroes in the official "Peacemaker" season 2 teaser trailer. Peacemaker Season 2 | Official Teaser | Max - YouTube The trailer kicks off with Chris Smith, aka Peacemaker, interviewing for what appears to be the Justice League. That interview doesn't go well, and, as I learned after watching "Superman" and "Peacemaker," it's also not the Justice League interviewing him. Instead, it's the Justice Gang, consisting of Kendra Saunders, aka Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Guy Gardner, aka one of the Green Lanterns (Nathan Fillion), with Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn) leading the interview. In "Superman," you learn that these heroes call themselves the Justice Gang, as it seems Gunn doesn't want to run headlong into forming the Justice League just yet. Stream "Peacemaker" season 2 premiere tonight (Aug. 21) at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Malcolm McMillanStreaming Editor Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately: 'Smoke' series finale — Jurnee Smollett and Dennis Lehane talk about the show's fiery ending One of my favorite rom-coms of the past decade just arrived on Hulu You’ll live, die and repeat watching this Tom Cruise sci-fi action movie on Peacock Today's best streaming service deals Disney+ Annual Premium Get first month fr... Hulu - Monthly (with Ads) Max Monthly With Ads Paramount Plus Premium - Monthly Peacock Premium We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices See more Entertainment News Malcolm McMillan Social Links Navigation Streaming Editor Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. When is 'Superman' streaming? Here's our best guess New on HBO Max in August 2025 — all the new shows and movies to watch New on HBO Max in June 2025 — all the new shows and movies to watch 20 new shows and movies to watch in August 2025 on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more 'Fallout' season 2 — release date revealed, new trailer, cast and more I was worried about 'The Sandman' season 2 — but the first episode proved me wrong Latest in HBO Max HBO Max drops new trailer and sets premiere date for 'Mare of Easttown' creator's new crime thriller — and I can't wait to stream it HBO's 'Yogurt Shop Murders' is the new true crime obsession — here's why HBO Max's password crackdown is getting 'aggressive' — your free ride is over 5 new to HBO Max movies to stream this month with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes 'South Park' is about to leave HBO Max — here's when it will be gone HBO Max reveals ‘And Just Like That’ will end after season 3 Latest in News Nintendo might be forced to raise prices on the Switch 2, says analyst — tariffs to blame Google is partnering with Steph Curry and rolling out a personalized AI fitness coach — here’s how to access it Gemini is finally replacing Google Assistant in Google Home — what you need to know Hundreds of thousands of Grok chatbot conversations are showing up in Google Search — here’s what happened ChatGPT was down — latest updates on outage Meta AI chatbots gave false medical advice and flirted with minors — now the company is restructuring its AI division again LATEST ARTICLES A step-by-step guide to managing your sleep in the first semester of college (and improving it after that!) Nintendo might be forced to raise prices on the Switch 2, says analyst — tariffs to blame Google is partnering with Steph Curry and rolling out a personalized AI fitness coach — here’s how to access it Gemini is finally replacing Google Assistant in Google Home — what you need to know Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Terms and conditions Contact Future's experts Privacy policy Cookies policy Accessibility Statement Advertise with us Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Please login or signup to comment Please wait...