As James Gunn’s DC Universe unfolds, Superman is set to be the central superhero for quite some time. Alongside the Man of Steel, Rick Flag Sr. will emerge as another pivotal figure in several upcoming series.
Frank Grillo portrays Flag, a military officer and the commander of the Suicide Squadron during World War II. Within this universe, Flag is the father of Rick Flag Jr., played by Joel Kinnaman, who takes the lead in the Suicide Squad. Grillo will lend his voice to Flag in the animated series Creature Commandos, which is set to debut on Max later this year. In this show, Grillo’s character leads a black ops team made up of monsters.
Following Creature Commandos, Grillo will make his live-action debut as Flag in Superman and will appear in season 2 of Peacemaker. This return is particularly notable because Peacemaker, played by John Cena, was responsible for the death of Flag Jr. in The Suicide Squad, a narrative thread that will likely be explored in Gunn’s series.
Gunn has stated, “Frank has been crafting a really compelling character. Flag is a crucial part of Superman, and he plays a significant role in Peacemaker. We will see this character from various perspectives, and he is anything but straightforward.”
For Gunn, Flag’s moral complexity adds depth to his character. He has long wanted to collaborate with Grillo, emphasizing the actor’s significance within this new phase of storytelling.
Gunn remarked, “This character is not a traditional hero; he’s very nuanced. We will explore the different facets of his personality. I’ve known Grillo for some time, and I envisioned working alongside him since I took charge of the studio. We were determined to create something exciting for him, and now, he’s everywhere.”
Creature Commandos is set to premiere on Max on December 5, 2024. Following this, Peacemaker season 2 is expected to launch sometime in 2025. Fans can look forward to Superman, which is scheduled to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.
