Frank Grillo, known for his roles in Marvel films, has recently opened up about his future in James Gunn's DC Extended Universe (DCU) and hinted at his involvement beyond Creature Commandos. Grillo, who will be portraying Rick Flag Sr. in Creature Commandos alongside his son Rick Flag from James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, shed some light on his upcoming role in an exclusive interview with Screen Rant.
The actor expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity presented by James Gunn and Peter Safran in the DCU. Grillo mentioned that he was excited about his future with the DCU, stating, 'James Gunn and Peter Safran over at DC have given me a great opportunity with Creature Commandos — and some other things that I'm not allowed to talk about — and I'm looking forward to the future with these guys in the DCU across the board. I think they've got some amazing stuff planned in the next year or two.'
Grillo's choice of words, referring to his future 'across the board' in the DCU rather than solely mentioning Creature Commandos, implies that there are plans for his character beyond the animated Max show. Given Grillo's previous disappointment with the limited role of Brock Rumlow/Crossbones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), his excitement about the upcoming DCU projects bodes well for the treatment of Rick Flag Sr. in the DC Universe.
In DC Comics, Rick Flag Sr. originally led the Suicide Squadron during World War II. However, Creature Commandos appears to deviate from this origin story by placing him in charge of the titular team in the present day. This change makes him a fitting choice for the team's leader, with parallels likely to be drawn between his role and that of Rick Flag Jr. in The Suicide Squad. In the interview, Grillo hinted that his version of the character is likely to be distinct, possessing a gravitas and control that Flag Jr. had yet to develop.
Grillo further alluded to the mature nature of the Creature Commandos project, describing it as 'hard R' and filled with hilarious and edgy content. The actor expressed his delight at being involved in such a venture and emphasized his character's grizzled appearance, indicating that he fully embraced the role.
Interestingly, Grillo's description of Creature Commandos' tone and humor aligns with another DC project, James Gunn's upcoming Peacemaker series. This suggests that Rick Flag Sr. could potentially be a good fit for the show. In The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker kills Rick Flag Jr., making it plausible that Rick Flag Sr. would have a compelling reason to pursue Peacemaker, thereby intertwining their storylines and exploring themes of fatherhood and the cycle of violence.
Moreover, in Creature Commandos, Rick Flag Sr. will interact with John Economos, who is also set to appear in the Peacemaker series, establishing a connection that could facilitate Rick Flag Sr.'s involvement in the DCU show.
Frank Grillo's hints about his character's future in James Gunn's DCU have certainly piqued fans' interests. With the tantalizing prospect of evolved storylines, unique character dynamics, and the potential for crossover appearances, it's an exciting time to be a fan of the DC Extended Universe. As Grillo eagerly looks ahead to what DC has in store, fans eagerly await his portrayal of Rick Flag Sr. in Creature Commandos and the unfolding of the DCU's plans in the coming years.
