Frank Grillo Fires Back at Rick Flag Sr. Haters: "Peacemaker Killed My Son!"
Frank Grillo has a message for DC fans who think Rick Flag Sr. went too far in Peacemaker Season 2: What the hell did you expect? The guy lost his son, and as far as Grillo is concerned, everything his character has done since is completely justified.
Rick Flag Sr. has become one of the more controversial characters in James Gunn's DCU, especially after the Peacemaker Season 2 finale. Flag took his revenge on Christopher Smith by deliberately stranding him on Salvation, a dangerous alternate world that serves as a prison for metahumans.
It was a pretty ruthless move, but Grillo isn't interested in hearing anyone complain about it. During an interview with MovieWeb, Grillo was asked how he felt about playing one of the most hated characters in the DCU.
His response made it clear that he doesn't see Flag as the bad guy. "Right now, I am? I didn't know that!"
When the interviewer brought up what Flag did to Peacemaker, Grillo immediately reminded them why his character has such a personal grudge against Christopher Smith, saying: "Peacemaker killed my son! Let me help you here. He murdered my son, my child."
Of course, anyone who watched The Suicide Squad knows what he's talking about. Peacemaker killed Rick Flag Jr. during their brutal confrontation, and that death has been driving his father's actions ever since.
The interviewer tried to defend Peacemaker by pointing out that Smith feels guilty about killing Flag Jr., but Grillo wasn't buying that argument either. "Whose problem is it, mine or yours? You're crazy."
You have to appreciate how completely Grillo has embraced his character's perspective. Sure, Rick Flag Sr. has made some questionable decisions, and trapping someone on an alien prison planet isn't exactly a reasonable response to grief.
But from his point of view, Peacemaker murdered his child, and feeling sorry about it doesn't change what happened. The interesting thing about Flag Sr. is that he isn't some typical DC villain looking to take over the world.
He's a father consumed by revenge who also happens to have the power and resources to make someone's life miserable. That makes him a dangerous guy to cross, especially when he believes he's doing the right thing.
Fans haven't seen the last of him, either. Grillo is returning as Rick Flag Sr. in Gunn's upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, and he's already teased that his character will have a significant role in the story. "My character, Rick Flag Sr., is a big part of the sequel's story, so I'm excited about it," Grillo previously said.
The film will see Superman forced to join forces with his longtime enemy Lex Luthor to face the powerful villain Brainiac.
The sequel is also bringing back Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, Milly Alcock as Supergirl, Xolo Maridueña as Blue Beetle, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl. Adria Arjona and Matthew Lillard are also joining the DCU in undisclosed roles.
While Superman remains a major part of the story, it sounds like Lex Luthor will be getting more attention this time around.
Fillion previously explained, "In the first movie, and rightly so, we learn a lot about who Superman is. In [Man of Tomorrow], I think we'll learn more about who Lex Luthor is, and I think it's equally important."
With Flag Sr. playing a major role in the sequel, it'll be interesting to see where Gunn takes him next, particularly after what he did to Peacemaker. His position in the DCU gives him plenty of opportunities to cause more trouble, and Grillo clearly enjoys playing a character who doesn't feel the need to apologize for his actions.
Man of Tomorrow arrives in theaters on July 9, 2027. Before that, DC fans can look forward to Clayface, which hits theaters on October 23, 2026.
As for whether Rick Flag Sr. deserves all the hate he's getting, Grillo has made his position perfectly clear. But what do you think? Is Flag justified in wanting revenge for his son's murder, or has he become just as bad as the man he's trying to punish?