WARNING: This article includes SPOILERS from Superman.James Gunn addresses which DC Universe project will be a crucial one to follow to see where the franchise is going after the Superman movie. A new era for DC is now fully underway, as Gunn’s Superman movie has not only brought the Man of Steel back to the big screen, but also kicked off the larger DCU.

While centering primarily on Krypton’s last son, the Superman movie also paved the way for numerous other characters who will be regulars in the DCU franchise. With multiple Chapter 1: “Gods and Monsters” movies and TV shows on the way, the DCU is just getting started, with larger payoffs coming down the line.

ScreenRant’s own Ash Crossan caught up with Gunn for Superman, though the discussion also turned to what is lying ahead for the franchise. While discussing Krypto’s progression in the story, Gunn was asked if the Super-Dog may play a similar role to how Rocket Raccoon was utilized in his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy – but it turns out there is a different DCU player fans should be keeping a closer eye on:

ScreenRant: And with Krypto too—I thought he was going to be this cute little messy sidekick, but he’s actually… he’s very integral to the story and also seems to be the connective tissue. Do you have a larger plan for Krypto? It’s almost like when I think of Guardians and how it ended up being Rocket’s story.

James Gunn: Yeah. I don’t think it’s Krypto’s story. I think… I do know whose story it is. And it probably isn’t anyone anyone would ever expect.

ScreenRant: Is it someone we’ve seen?

James Gunn: Yeah.

ScreenRant: Okay. So you have a throughline. And are you building towards a big event?

James Gunn: Yeah. Yeah. And it’s not what anyone thinks. It’s not what anyone would guess. But I think that if people watch the next season of Peacemaker, they’ll see where a lot of these things are going, and have a little bit more of a sense of maybe what can happen.

What James Gunn’s DC Universe Comments Mean

Peacemaker season 2 is slated to premiere on August 21 on HBO Max, and it’s already been confirmed that the next season takes place after the Superman movie’s ending. While many returning and new characters have been announced for Peacemaker season 2, the mystery player Gunn is referring to could potentially be someone who was in Superman.

With Superman movie characters like Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Maxwell Lord showing up in Peacemaker season 2, any of them could fit into what Gunn is foreshadowing. But what is coming through with his comments is that even if a character starts out as a supporting player, their arcs could come to be crucial for the DCU as the franchise grows.

Our Take On James Gunn’s DC Universe Comments

While time will tell who Gunn is actually teasing about, it wouldn’t be shocking if Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. was the character Gunn was referring to regarding Peacemaker season 2. After his appearances in Creature Commandos season 1, Superman, and his upcoming return in Peacemaker season 2, the DCU is definitely giving the character an expanded role.

As DC Studios intends to let each DCU project have its own stamp, it’s still great to see the overall connectivity that Gunn is aiming for with this franchise, which was always a big problem with the DCEU. With everything that went down in Superman, time will tell how Peacemaker season 2 will impact the larger DCU.