Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Will Be in Several DC Projects and James Gunn Teases "He Is Morally a Complex Human Being"
As the new DC universe of movies and shows kicks off from studio co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, viewers can expect one character who will flow throughout the first few projects, and that’s actor Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr.
Grillo will first appear as team leader Rick Flag, Sr. in the animated series Creature Commandos, which premieres this fall on Max.
The character has roots in the DC universe already as the father of the late Rick Flag, Jr., who was played by Joel Kinnaman in Gunn's The Suicide Squad (2021). The filmmaker previously confirmed that Grillo will also play Flag Sr.
in Season 2 of Peacemaker, which sets up potential conflict since it was that show's titular character (John Cena) who killed Flag's son in an earlier movie.
And it doesn't stop there. After paparazzi pics surfaced of Grillo on the set of Superman, Gunn confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that Flag will be a part of next summer's big-screen release.
Gunn talked to the outlet about the character Rick Flag Sr., and he explained: "He is a really cool character that Frank has been molding. The character's also in Superman, and he's an incredibly important part in Peacemaker. He is one of the primary characters in Peacemaker season 2.
“So we get to see this character from different angles, and he is not simple. This isn't just a good guy, not at all. We see all different sides of his character. He is morally a complex human being. Grillo is somebody who I've known for a little while, and I've wanted to work with him for a long time.
“He was one of the first people that I talked to when I took over the studio, like 'we're going to find something cool for you,' and now he is everywhere."
It’s reported that Grillo's performance will be proof of concept for a policy Gunn and Safran previously announced about their new DC universe, that characters will consistently be played by the same actor across both animated and live-action projects.
So if there's a Superman video game or animated series following next year's movie, the character will likely be played by star David Corenswet in those versions, as well.
By portraying Flag in an animated series, a live-action series, and then a live-action movie, Grillo will really get to inhabit every corner of this up-and-coming DC multi-media franchise.
Gunn went on to say: "The actors have to be able to work within different genres, and that's something Frank's really been good at. He's been really good at the comedy of Creature Commandos and also really good at the drama of Peacemaker and Superman."
DC fans will get their first feel for the character Rick Flag, Sr. when Creature Commandos premieres on December 5th on Max.