Deadline reports that Peacemaker has cast a new Vigilante in Bridgerton star Freddie Stroma. Chris Conrad was previously cast in the HBO Max series, but the trade notes that the actor is leaving The Suicide Squad spinoff "amicably due to creative differences."
As per usual, we don't know exactly what led to him parting ways with the show, and it's unclear whether he'd shot any material.
Peacemaker's Vigilante, a.k.a. Adrian Chase, is described as a hand-to-hand combatant, a brilliant marksman and a master of the lariat. He was a New York City DA who sought justice in his own way as his alter ego after his wife and kids were killed by mobsters. Vigilante also has the ability to heal quickly and regenerate his body from injuries as serious as stabbings or gunshot wounds.
If you're an Arrow fan, you'll no doubt be all too familiar with both Chase and Vigilante, though they were portrayed as two completely separate characters. In the comic books, the District Attorney took on this mantle as a means to fight crime outside of his official jurisdictions. He used non-lethal methods at first, but his mental health eventually deteriorated and he became a killer.
The character has a history with Peacemaker and feels like an appropriate addition to this series. We'll never know how Stroma's version differs from Conrad's, but James Gunn clearly sees something in him. The British actor is also known for his roles in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Inbetweeners 2, and Netflix's The Crew.
The Suicide Squad will be released in theaters and on HBO Max on August 6. Peacemaker is expected to premiere on the streaming platform in early 2022.