DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn recently revealed how "Peacemaker" Season 2 addresses the "canon controversy" surrounding the Justice League's appearance in the Season 1 finale. 
※The following contains spoilers for "Peacemaker" Season 2. Proceed with caution.
※The following contains spoilers for "Peacemaker" Season 2. Proceed with caution.
※The following contains spoilers for "Peacemaker" Season 2. Proceed with caution.
With the DC Universe undergoing a complete reboot, Gunn opted for a straightforward approach to reconstruct the narrative, sidestepping complex multiverse explanations. Instead, a new team, "The Justice Guild," replaces the Justice League as the core superhero ensemble in this universe.
"Peacemaker" Season 2 picks up approximately one month after the events of "Superman," opening with a "Previously in the DCU" recap that bridges the story from Season 1.
Dialogue where the character Adebayo originally called for the "Justice League's" assistance has been re-recorded to reference "The Justice Guild." Subsequently, John Cena's Peacemaker also reveals in the recap that he once vomited on Green Lantern Guy Gardner at a party, directly introducing new characters. 
DCEU heroes such as Jason Momoa's Aquaman and Ezra Miller's The Flash, who appeared in the Season 1 finale, have now been replaced by members of The Justice Guild, including Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Superman, Supergirl, and Mister Terrific.
While Peacemaker still hurls insults at them, the character interactions are entirely different. Consequently, the controversial "Aquaman joke" has been removed, replaced instead by a verbal spat between Green Lantern and Hawkgirl. 
Regarding these changes, Gunn admitted in a media roundtable that he never considered using the multiverse or other sci-fi concepts to "rationalize" the canon contradictions from Season 1. He stated bluntly, "Regular audiences don't care about those details. The simple way is the best way to handle it. This world is almost identical to Season 1, just without the Justice League."
Gunn also reiterated to fans that there's no need to overly fixate on "canon": "Ultimately, none of this is real; it's just the stories we tell about the characters."
Although the original Justice League scene remains in the "Peacemaker" Season 1 finale on HBO Max, The Justice Guild will officially take their place in Season 2's recap and new storyline, continuing to play a pivotal role. Beyond the opening cameo, The Justice Guild will also feature in a "humiliating interview" sequence for Peacemaker, hinting at more future interactions. 
James Gunn emphasized that his initial design for the Justice League's Season 1 finale appearance was intended to surprise audiences: "I knew people would go crazy for that scene, where a minor character dares to talk back to the Justice League – it was crazy and fun." Now, as the new DCU chapter unfolds, the old version is no longer canon, but the new "Justice Guild" will serve as this universe's new protectors.
As Season 2's plot details are gradually revealed, Gunn also teased that "major DCU surprise cameos" are still to come. Whether audiences will embrace this canon restructuring is poised to be one of the most anticipated discussions surrounding "Peacemaker" Season 2.