‘I Didn’t Have A Clue’: Creature Commandos Showrunner Tells Us The Two Characters That Concerned Him The Most, And What Finally Won Him Over

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As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for comic book adaptations, I must say that the upcoming release of “Creature Commandos” has me buzzing with anticipation. Having followed James Gunn’s work since his days at Marvel and now with DC, it’s clear he’s got a knack for breathing life into the most unlikely characters.

Upon the arrival of Creature Commandos in December, accessible only to DC fans with a Max subscription, it signifies James Gunn’s re-entry into the universe he originally created in both The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. Concurrently, this marks the beginning of a full-fledged DC cinematic universe, or DCU, which will eventually incorporate upcoming projects like Gunn’s 2025 Superman film, Peacemaker‘s second season, Supergirl, and the television series Lanterns. It is strategic for DC and Warner Bros. to entrust Gunn with the creative responsibilities given his successful past ventures with both Marvel and DC. However, the selection of this team to spearhead the project left some people puzzled, even those involved in the show’s creation.

In essence, the series “Creature Commandos” draws inspiration from an established DC comic book. Unlike other tales, this version revolves around a group of mythical beasts rather than criminals, led by Amanda Waller, portrayed by Viola Davis. The story shares similarities with “The Suicide Squad”, but in this case, the cast consists of monsters instead of villains. This creative liberty enabled writer James Gunn and his collaborator Dean Lorey (known for “Harley Quinn”) to construct their unique team, which includes Weasel (Sean Gunn), The Bride (Indira Varma), Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), Nina Mazursky (Zoe Chao) and others. This diverse and endearing group is ready to embark on their mission.

Before the premiere of Creature Commandos, slated for Thursday, December 5 when its first two episodes will be released, showrunner Dean Lorey recently spoke with TopMob about the team and his partnership with James Gunn on this eagerly awaited series. Lorey shared that among the group, there were actually two characters that initially gave him pause. As he put it:

Initially, I wasn’t sure how G.I. Robot and Frankenstein would come across in our recordings because I hadn’t developed a clear mental image of their personas beforehand. This is because G.I. Robot is highly adaptable, leaving me wondering about the degree of robotness in his portrayal. As for Frankenstein, I was unsure due to his dual nature as an intellectual character with a stalker-like tendency and a somewhat unpleasant demeanor.

It might take some effort to fully understand the characters in Creature Commandos, as they share similarities with the Suicide Squad – both groups are imprisoned in Belle Reve and are under the control of the strong-willed Amanda Waller. However, it’s crucial to note that these teams are expendable. Yet, James Gunn has a knack for creating compelling stories around misfit characters and forming cohesive teams, as demonstrated by the Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, which he developed from an obscure property before those films.

Just like the success of Guardians, the excellence of Creature Commandos hinges on casting choices. Frank Grillo embodies the perfect tough-guy leader for Rick Flag Sr., while Sean Gunn infuses both G.I. Robot and Weasel with warmth and wit. However, it’s undoubtedly David Harbour who steals the show, lending his voice to the character of Frankenstein. Regarding his performance, Dean Lorey shared with TopMob:

From the moment David Harbour stepped in, I could tell it was a perfect fit. There wasn’t even an inkling of doubt – it was as clear as day, “Ah, this is obviously right.” To me, that’s how you recognize when something clicks, when it feels so authentic, you just know, “Yep, it couldn’t be anything else.

preparations are underway for the premiere of Creature Commandos, which is set for December 5. That’s when we’ll finally see the first two out of seven episodes, and introduce you to the fresh team that will kickstart James Gunn and Peter Safran’s growing universe inspired by DC characters. As a fan of DC narratives, this is an exhilarating time for you; don’t miss out on joining early!

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2024-11-20 21:39