Wikipedia

Draft:Rick Flag Sr. (DC Universe)

Rick Flag Sr.
DC Universe character
First appearanceCreature Commandos (2024)
Based on
Rick Flag Sr.
by
Adapted byJames Gunn
Portrayed byFrank Grillo
Voiced byFrank Grillo
In-universe information
Occupation
AffiliationA.R.G.U.S (Amanda Waller)
Significant others
ChildrenRick Flag Jr.

Rick Flag Sr. is a fictional character in the DC Universe (DCU) media franchise, based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Adapted by DC Studios co-chairman James Gunn, he is voiced and portrayed by Frank Grillo.

Gunn took over DC's film and television operations in 2022 after working on prior DC Extended Universe (DCEU) projects with producer Peter Safran. Flag was one of the first characters Gunn conceived for his and Safran's new franchise; the character is a central figure in DCU media. Grillo was contacted shortly after Gunn's takeover of DC Studios; Gunn wanted to "find something cool" for him after wishing to work with him for a long time and knowing him for a little while. Flag debuted in the animated television series Creature Commandos (2024), appeared in the film Superman (2025), and starred in Peacemaker season 2 (2025).

Character overview

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Background

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In October 2018, filmaker James Gunn was hired to write and direct The Suicide Squad (2021),[1][2] a standalone sequel to Suicide Squad (2016), an earlier film in the DCEU.[3] Gunn worked with producer Peter Safran, who also produced the DCEU films Aquaman (2018) and Shazam! (2019).[4] Before its release, a spin-off of the film was ordered in September 2020, the television series Peacemaker (2022–present).[5] Besides Gunn's and Safran's projects, DC Films president Walter Hamada was planning around 25 other live-action and animated DC-based series.[6]

In April 2022, Discovery, Inc. and DC Films's owner WarnerMedia merged to become Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), led by president and CEO David Zaslav. The new company was expected to restructure DC Entertainment so the film, television, and video game divisions of the company could be aligned. Even before the merger was complete, Zaslav began meeting with candidates to take over DC—including film executive Emma Watts—with the hope of finding an equivalent to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. Despite some recent successes with DC films and series, Zaslav and WBD felt DC lacked a "coherent creative and brand strategy".[7] Besides Watts, producer Dan Lin and filmmaker Todd Phillips were prominent candidates in the running to take over DC, though both declined.[8][9]

Ultimately, Gunn and Safran were announced as the co-chairmen and co-CEOs of the newly formed DC Studios at the end of October 2022 and were set to take over from Hamada on November 1. Gunn was expected to focus on the creative side of the company while Safran focused on the business and production side.[10] A week after starting their new roles, the pair began working with a group of writers to develop an eight-to-ten-year plan for the new DCU, and Gunn presented Zaslav this plan, highlighting his affinity for obscure characters from DC.[11] The duo announced a slate of DCU projects, which combined DC's well-known "diamond characters" with lesser known characters who they hoped would become just as popular.[12][13]

Casting and characterization

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Rick Flag Sr. is portrayed by Frank Grillo across DCU media

Frank Grillo was one of the first performers Gunn spoke to after taking over DC Studios. Having wanted to work with Grillo for a long time and having known him for a little while, Gunn desired "to find something cool" for the actor.[14] Gunn personally reached out to Grillo before calling his agents, presenting his plan, and Grillo trusted Gunn enough to join as Rick Flag Sr. before reading a script.[15] Grillo said that because Flag was not prominent in DC comics, Gunn gave him 8 to 10 pages of backstory on the character.[16]

Grillo's casting in the first project of the DCU, Creature Commandos, was announced in April 2023.[17] Grillo was among some of the actors planned for live-action appearances in the DCU.[18] Gunn said he ended up putting him "everywhere" across the franchise.[14] Grillo joined Peacemaker season 2 to reprise the role of Flag in May 2024,[19][20] and the character's appearance in Superman was revealed by spoiler photographs published by Cleveland media during filming there in June.[21] Gunn said that the performers in the DCU had to be able to work within different genres, and that Grillo was especially good with both the comedy of Creature Commandos and the drama of Superman and Peacemaker.[14]

"[You see it] in his behavior and in his allegiance. I think the death of a child, the murder of a child, even an adult child, is catastrophic in affecting one's behavior. That's kind of the through line for this guy is that he's dealing with, or not dealing with so well, the death of his son".

—Grillo on Flag's situation in the DCU[22]

Gunn described Flag as "morally a complex human being", and said that his various appearances across the DCU afforded the audience a look at the character from different angles.[14] Grillo said that Flag Sr. has more gravitas and control than his son, and that he played the character as grizzled and "white on the sides and white in the beard".[23] He said that Gunn gave him the freedom to implement much of his own personality into Flag, something he admitted was hard because "as an actor, you're trained not to do that", though he said "the way that he believes in the world" and his relationship with his son were similar to himself.[16]

Flag deals with the death of his son, Rick Flag Junior, in the events of the DCU.[22] Grillo says that "there's not a day that goes by in Rick Flag Sr.'s life that revenge isn't in his head" against Peacemaker, who killed his son.[22]

Appearances

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Grillo described Flag as "a huge part" of the DCU and would be "weaved through a lot of different things", akin to the role of Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[15][22]

Flag has appeared in two television series and one film in the DCU:

Creature Commandos (2024)

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In the animated series Creature Commandos, Flag finds himself in the middle of an international incident.[24] Since the United States Congress deemed against the use of human prisoners, Amanda Waller has now made use of a group of monsters, the Creature Commandos.[24][25] Waller assigns them to Flag as his subordinates, under the name "Task Force M".[26][27] This is where the plot summary of Creature Commandos as it pertains to the experiences/story of Flag Sr. wil go

Grillo described Flag's position in the series as a "troubled man who has to take care of all these maniacs".[24] Flag enters romantic relationships with Eric Frankenstein (David Harbour) and Princess Ilana Rostovic (Maria Bakalova).[24]

Superman (2025)

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In Superman, which takes place a few months after the events of Creature Commandos, [28] plot summary

Flag's uniform differs from his previous appearance in Creature Commandos and his hair is not as grey, an aesthetic Grillo attributed to the character's promotion, saying that changed his behavior and mission.[22] Concerning Flag's outlook on the film's title character, Grillo said Flag "understands and appreciates Superman for what he is", despite the two being ideological opposites. Grillo figured that Flag was "a bit in awe of Superman", and believed that Flag respects him immensely.[29]

Peacemaker season 2 (2025)

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Flag is a primary character in the second season of the television series Peacemaker.[14] Flag receives "another kind of promotion" in Peacemaker season 2,[22] setting him opposite of Christopher Smith / Peacemaker, who killed his son Rick Flag Jr., the leader of Suicide Squad, in the film The Suicide Squad (2021).[a] Gunn said that Flag had "a little unfinished business to take care of" because of this.[19][20]

Grillo said Flag's white hair caused conflict with his shooting schedule for the television series Tulsa King (2022–present).[30] Gunn said this conflict with Tulsa King was the reason for the inconsistency between Flag's white hair on his animated avatar in Creature Commandos and Grillo's black hair in Peacemaker.[31]

Reception

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Notes

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  1. ^ The death of Rick Flag Jr. was one of the events carried over from Gunn's DC Extended Universe work (The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1) to the DCU canon.[25]

References

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  1. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 9, 2018). "James Gunn Boards Suicide Squad 2 To Write And Possibly Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  2. ^ Couch, Aaron; McClintock, Pamela (January 30, 2019). "The Batman, The Suicide Squad Set 2021 Release Dates". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  3. ^ Davis, Brandon (July 6, 2021). "The Suicide Squad Producer Rules Out Connections To Previous Film". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Mancuso, Vinnie (July 6, 2021). "The Suicide Squad Producer Explains How the Film Connects to Suicide Squad: "We Don't Address It"". Collider. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  5. ^ White, Peter (September 23, 2020). "The Suicide Squad TV Spinoff Peacemaker Starring John Cena From James Gunn Ordered By HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  6. ^ Barnes, Brooks (December 27, 2020). "Managing Movie Superheroes Is About to Get a Lot More Complicated". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Lang, Brent; Donnelly, Matt (April 14, 2022). "Warner Bros. Discovery Exploring Overhaul of DC Entertainment (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Fleming, Mike Jr (August 25, 2022). "DC Intrigue: Lego Franchise Producer Dan Lin In Pole Position For Top Spot – The Dish". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  9. ^ Sherman, Alex; Whitten, Alex (September 6, 2022). "Lego Movie producer Dan Lin won't take DC film and TV chief role at Warner Bros". CNBC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (October 25, 2022). "DC Shocker: James Gunn, Peter Safran to Lead Film, TV and Animation Division (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Couch, Aaron (November 10, 2022). "James Gunn, Peter Safran Are Mapping Out "Eight- to 10-Year Plan" for DC". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Vary, Adam B. (January 31, 2023). "New DC Universe Unveils First 10 Projects: Superman: Legacy in 2025, Batman & Robin Movie, Green Lantern Series, Wonder Woman Prequel and More". Variety. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  13. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 31, 2023). "James Gunn & Peter Safran Unveil Big DC Plan With New Movies For Batman & Robin, Swamp Thing, The Authority; Lanterns TV Series & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e Holub, Christian (October 3, 2024). "James Gunn teases Frank Grillo's role across Peacemaker and Superman: 'He is morally a complex human being'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Chang, Tom (September 21, 2024). "Frank Grillo on James Gunn's "Groundbreaking" New DCU; Rick Flag Sr". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Behbakht, Andy (November 18, 2024). "Creature Commandos Star Frank Grillo Teases Rick Flag Sr.'s DCU Introduction & The Benefits Of R-Rated Animation". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (April 12, 2023). "Frank Grillo to Play the DCU's Rick Flag in Creature Commandos (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Graves, Sabina (April 12, 2023). "Welcome James Gunn's Creature Commandos Cast to DC Studios". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Pipski, Denise (May 10, 2024). "Frank Grillo Joins James Gunn For Season 2 Of Peacemaker". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Moreau, Jordan (May 10, 2024). "Frank Grillo Joins Peacemaker Season 2 as Rick Flag Sr". Variety. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  21. ^ Flook, Ray (June 26, 2024). "Superman: Frank Grillo Confirms 3rd New DCU Project; Praises Corenswet". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d e f Bui, Hoai-Tran (November 18, 2024). "Frank Grillo says Rick Flag Sr. is the Nick Fury of the DCU". Inverse. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  23. ^ Hermanns, Grant (February 12, 2024). "Frank Grillo Talks Lights Out, His Close Friendship With Mekhi Phifer & DCU Future". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d Bankhurst, Adam (October 19, 2024). "Creature Commandos NYCC Trailer Reveals First Look at Clayface and Circe". IGN. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Bonomolo, Cameron (October 20, 2024). "Everything James Gunn Revealed About the New DCU at NYCC". ComicBook.com. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  26. ^ Milici, Lauren (October 20, 2024). "First trailer for James Gunn's ultra-violent Creature Commandos TV show introduces an unordinary team of DC superheroes and a fan-favorite Batman villain". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  27. ^ Diaz, Eric (October 22, 2024). "Everything We Know About DC's Creature Commandos". Nerdist. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  28. ^ Hickson, Colin (November 18, 2024). "'It's Not True': James Gunn Debunks Rumored Superman and Creature Commandos Connection". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  29. ^ O'Connell, Sean (November 18, 2024). "Now That Superman Is Coming To The DCU, Frank Grillo Tells Us How Rick Flag Sr. Feels About The Man Of Steel". CinemaBlend. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  30. ^ Francisco, Eric (October 19, 2024). "What Does Creature Commandos Tell Us About the James Gunn DCU?". Vulture. Archived from the original on October 20, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  31. ^ Mishra, Shrishty (November 12, 2024). "James Gunn Clarifies New DCU Timeline for Peacemaker, Superman, and More". Collider. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
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