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Back in May 2022, DC put Waller on the table, talking about it as a spinoff growing out of The Suicide Squad. It wasn’t a complicated pitch: Viola Davis would be back as Amanda Waller, the A.R.G.U.S. chief she first played in Suicide Squad (2016). Since that debut, she’s turned up in The Suicide Squad, crossed into Black Adam, and appeared again in the first seasons of Peacemaker and Creature Commandos. That last one only had her voice, but it still kept the character tied into the rest of the DC world.
When the show was announced, Christal Henry was named as writer and showrunner, joined by Doom Patrol creator Jeremy Carver. It was headed to HBO Max. The pace, however, slowed. Articles from outlets like Screen Rant pointed to the leadership change at DC Studios, when James Gunn and Peter Safran stepped in, as the period when the project’s speed started to level off. That was also the start of the DC Universe reboot.
Amanda Waller had already been woven into multiple DC stories. Giving her a lead role wasn’t a sudden turn; it built on years of background involvement, linking different titles in subtle ways.
Waller updates from the red carpet
During press for Peacemaker season 2, The Hollywood Reporter asked Gunn about the series. His answer was straightforward: the show had not moved as quickly as some other DCU projects, but it was still in active development. He noted that certain titles moved forward at high speed, while others took longer. That public note also pushed back against speculation that the series was being shelved or rewritten entirely. Earlier, in June 2025, Gunn had already addressed a rumor claiming Waller was turning into a Checkmate series, saying the claim was false.
A slower, uneven path
Gunn has called the project’s journey a bumpy road, a phrase that confirms challenges without laying out every detail. One confirmed element is his stance on production: no filming until the script is finished. That approach, he’s said before, is part of keeping quality where it needs to be. Looking at the wider industry, the 2023 strikes by writers and actors disrupted many productions. There’s no direct statement linking those delays to the series, but the timeline shows it was moving through the same disrupted period.
Scheduling also played a part. Peacemaker season 2 was placed ahead of Waller in the DCU release order. Gunn has linked this to the way the studio is arranging its rollout of interconnected stories.
Small creative markers
At the Peacemaker season 2 premiere, Gunn mentioned being eager to see Viola Davis step back into Amanda Waller’s look, floral-print dresses included. It’s a small detail, but it ties directly to how the character has been presented on screen before. Moments like this suggest the creative direction for the character remains anchored to what audiences already recognize.
Where things stand
No release date has been set. What is confirmed: the show will come after Peacemaker season 2, which premieres August 21, 2025. That automatically pushes the spinoff to late 2025 or beyond. How far beyond depends on pre-production, filming, and post-production timelines.
Extra months could be used to refine the script and keep it aligned with the DCU’s new structure. Gunn has repeated in several settings that the writing process needs to be complete before production gets underway. That policy has become a recurring point in his public updates.
Place in the DCU slate
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The show is still listed among DCU projects in development. The character’s role across connected stories keeps her relevant to the broader direction of the franchise. Updates from Gunn show it’s not being quietly dropped, even if other series are getting to release sooner.
Viola Davis has carried Amanda Waller since 2016. That consistency keeps interest steady, even during long stretches without major news. Until the script is locked and production starts, Waller will remain in development, waiting for its place in the ongoing rollout of DC stories. When it does arrive, it will add another layer to the connected world DC has been building.
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