As a cinephile with over three decades of movie-watching under my belt, I must admit that James Gunn’s latest move in the DC Universe has piqued my interest. Frank Grillo joining the DCU as Rick Flag Sr., a character who will appear across live-action and animated projects, is a bold and exciting step for the franchise.
Frank Grillo is set to feature in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, playing Rick Flag Sr., a character who will span both animated and live-action productions. Rick Flag Sr., the father of Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag, has been confirmed for three upcoming DCU projects: Creature Commandos, Peacemaker Season 2, and Superman. In a recent chat with Entertainment Weekly, James Gunn provided a sneak peek into what viewers can anticipate from Grillo’s versatile portrayal of the lesser-known comic book character.
James Gunn stated, “Frank has been shaping a truly fascinating character, Rick Flag Sr., who will play a crucial role in the early DCU.” Additionally, Gunn noted that this character also appears in Superman and plays a significant part in Peacemaker. In fact, he is one of the main characters in Peacemaker season 2, offering viewers different perspectives on him. As it turns out, this character is not straightforward.
In describing Rick Flag Sr.’s character, Gunn stated that he’s not your typical black-and-white hero. He’s far from being just a good guy, as he put it. Similar to his son, Rick Flag Sr.’s morality is fluid and adaptable, often influenced by the mission objectives and the lives in danger. Throughout the three projects where Flag Sr. will appear, Gunn assured that viewers will see various facets of this intricate leader, indicating a complex portrayal of the character.
His character exhibits various aspects, making him a multifaceted individual morally. Grillo, whom I’ve known for some time, has always been someone I’ve aspired to collaborate with. When I assumed control of the studio, he was among the first people I spoke to, promising to find an interesting project for him. Now, it seems like he’s everywhere.
How Will the DCU Jump Between Animation and Live-Action?
Rick Flag Sr. isn’t the only character who switches between real-world and animated portrayals in the DC Universe. Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller will also feature in Creature Commandos, commanding her disposable team, before starring in her own live-action series titled Waller. Most recently, James Gunn revealed that Robin and his more hot-tempered successor, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd respectively, will share the stage in an animated movie within the DC Universe. For years, fans have longed to see Nightwing and Red Hood on the big screen, and are hoping that these characters might transition from their animated movie to future live-action projects, possibly even the Brave and the Bold Batman film.
Incorporating both live-action and animated characters in the DC Universe presents some challenges for James Gunn and Peter Safran. Primarily, they need to select actors who can commit to multiple upcoming projects. Furthermore, the voices of the animated characters should visually resemble their voice actors. This issue doesn’t arise with human characters in the DC Universe. However, Gunn and Safran are keen on featuring the quirky and supernatural characters from DC Comics more prominently. If any of these heroes or villains were to transition between live-action and animation, it would necessitate careful planning to adapt their distinctive appearances into live-action, either by using CGI or practical methods such as costumes and prosthetics.
The official launch of the new DC Universe occurs when Creature Commandos premieres on Max on December 5, 2025.
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2024-10-04 17:01