Peacemaker Decision to Kill Rick Defended by James Gunn?
The Suicide Squad is inspired by DC characters and follows the titular group of criminals as they are ordered to defeat Starro the Conqueror, a massive extraterrestrial starfish. Peacemaker is discovered to be on his own secret mission, which is to conceal up the United States' involvement in bringing Starro to Earth. This enrages Kinnaman's Rick Flag, who is killed in a violent confrontation in the third act of the movie. While Cena's character was assumed dead by the end of the movie, a post-credits scene in The Suicide Squad revealed Peacemaker to be alive, launching Gunn's Peacemaker television show.
Following backlash from fans about Peacemaker's behaviour, Gunn defended his decision. Flag releasing information about the US' role in Project Starfish, he claims, would have caused "a significant deal of disruption," acting against Peacemaker's final purpose of attaining peace no matter the consequences. As a response, Flag attacks him, justifying Peacemaker's use of lethal force. Nevertheless, he eventually feels remorse and regrets his acts, crying about it in episode 2 of Peacemaker.