Joel Kinnaman to reprise his Rick Flag Jr. role in Peacemaker 2: Rumor explored

Peacemaker will return on August 21, 2025, streaming on Max with a new set of episodes. Eight in total, one each week. That is locked in. What is not locked in is a rumor that has been circulating for months. It says Joel Kinnaman could once again play Rick Flag Jr., the same role he took on in two previous DC films. The origin is traceable: a post on X from the EverythingDCU account, pointing to scooper @MyTimeToShineH as the source. No official studio statement has confirmed it.

The date reveal gave season two a fixed place in DC Studios’ calendar. That alone has kept the show in ongoing conversation. A first season that mixed outrageous humor and sharp action left enough unresolved threads to make room for speculation. Add returning cast members and a few confirmed newcomers, and the ground is ready for any rumor to grow. The potential return of Rick Flag Jr. has become the most persistent of them.

The character’s path so far

Rick Flag Jr. is one of those characters with deep roots in DC Comics. Across the years, he has often led dangerous missions for ordinary teams, usually tied to the Suicide Squad. In live action, Joel Kinnaman stepped into the part in 2016’s Suicide Squad, then came back for The Suicide Squad in 2021.

In those appearances, Flag was more than a uniform and a command structure. He provided balance in a team of unpredictable personalities. The mix of strict military conduct and the occasional moral stand gave him a role that stood apart from the rest of the group.

What the rumor actually says

After the EverythingDCU post, two ideas started repeating in entertainment coverage. One: The character might be seen in flashbacks. Two: it could be an alternate version from another reality or timeline. Neither has been confirmed. Warner Bros. Discovery, DC Studios, and Max have not issued any statement that verifies his presence. The conversation exists entirely outside official channels.

Kinnaman’s public stance

Back in October 2024, Kinnaman was asked about this exact topic. His answer was short and clear. He said he was not involved in Peacemaker season two. Several entertainment outlets carried that response. Since then, there has been no updated comment from him or from the show’s production that changes it.

Confirmed facts about Peacemaker season two

The new season begins August 21, 2025. Eight episodes, one per week. That much is public and confirmed. Another confirmed detail: Frank Grillo joins the cast as Rick Flag Sr., father to Kinnaman’s character in the films. The announcement appeared in promotional material and was backed by trailer coverage that showed Flag Sr. in scenes with John Cena’s Peacemaker.

Season one arrived in 2022 as a spin-off from The Suicide Squad, created and directed by James Gunn. The mix of sharp dialogue, intense fight scenes, and moments of genuine character depth gave it a distinct space in the DC lineup. It also held connections to the DC film world during a period of major change for the franchise.

Season one performance and reception

Peacemaker showed up on HBO Max on January 13, 2022. Not long after, numbers from Samba TV were making the rounds; about 638,000 households in the United States had streamed the first episode in its first four days. It wasn’t an official studio report, just data from an outside measurement service, but it became part of the early chatter around the show. The reviews that followed leaned in its favor. More than a few singled out John Cena’s knack for bouncing between ridiculous, big laugh moments and scenes that carried a heavier tone. That mix of extremes gave the series a spot of its own in a superhero market already crowded with choices.

The current schedule and open questions

The season two schedule is already mapped out. Weekly episodes mean the run will stretch into early fall 2025. Outside the confirmed cast and release format, little else is public. Grillo’s role as Rick Flag Sr. remains the most significant new element. The rumor linking Kinnaman to a return as Rick Flag Jr. still traces back to the same source and has not been verified.

Promotional campaigns, interviews, and updated trailers will likely carry more details as the premiere gets closer. Until that point, the speculation will keep surfacing, especially whenever new footage or casting news is released.

Overview of what is known and what is not

The talk about Joel Kinnaman stepping back in as Rick Flag Jr. for Peacemaker’s second season traces to one place: a post on X. In it, the source was clear: scooper @MyTimeToShineH. From the studio? Nothing. No press release, no confirmation. Kinnaman’s own words on the matter go back to October 2024, when he flatly denied being involved.

What is locked in is different. Peacemaker’s next season lands on Max on August 21, 2025, and it’s set for eight weekly episodes. Frank Grillo is in as Rick Flag Sr. The first season pulled in measurable viewership and got good marks from critics. Whether Flag Jr. turns up or not, the mix of familiar faces, fresh additions, and a fixed launch date has kept the series in the conversation.