James Gunn Discusses Frank Grillo’s ‘Complex’ DCU Character: ‘This Isn’t Just a Good Guy’

James Gunn has shared some new details about Frank Grillo ’s DCU character Rick Flag Sr.

Grillo has been tapped to play Rick Flag Sr. in Gunn and Safran’s forthcoming DCU. The character, who is the father of Rick Flag (previously played by Joel Kinnaman in the DCEU Suicide Squad movies, the most recent of which was directed by Gunn), will first appear in animated form in 2024’s Creature Commandos .

Grillo will then play the character in live-action in Peacemaker Season 2 and Superman .

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly , Gunn opened up about what fans can expect out of Rick Flag Sr. in the DCU.

What did James Gunn say about Frank Grillo’s DCU character?

“He is a really cool character that Frank has been molding,” Gunn said. “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.”

He continued, “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.”

Gunn further complemented Grillo on being “able to work within different genres.” He added, “He’s been really good at the comedy of Creature Commandos and also really good at the drama of Peacemaker and Superman.”

Along with Grillo, the voice cast of Creature Commandos includes Steve Agee as John Economos, Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana Rostovic, Anya Chalotra as Circe, Zoë Chao as Nina Mazursky, Sean Gunn as G.I. Robot and Weasel, David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein, Alan Tudyk as Doctor Phosphorus, Indira Varma as the Bride, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

Creature Commandos premieres on Max on December 5, 2024.