2 Years Later, Avengers Star Still Has No Regrets For Playing DC’s Most Hated Character

Frank Grillo, who was in the MCU as Crossbones and appeared in Avengers: Endgame, also played DC’s Rick Flag Sr. After playing him in Superman, he had a larger role in season 2 of Peacemaker, where he was an antagonist for John Cena’s eponymous hero. He was a true-blue villain for Peacemaker and made Cena’s life living hell, earning the wrath of fans. When asked how he felt about being the most-hated DC character, he said to MovieWeb,

Hated? Why am I hated?! Right now, I am? I didn’t know that!

The actor also expressed that he had no regrets playing the character and that his anger towards Peacemaker was justified due to the character’s previous actions. Grillo is set to return as the character in Man of Tomorrow, and the actor teased that it was not the end of the line for Rick Flag Sr.

Frank Grillo Justified Rick Flag Sr.’s Anger in Peacemaker

Frank Grillo in Peacemaker | Credits: HBO Max

Rick Flag Sr.’s anger against Peacemaker goes back to pre-DCU days, when Chris Smith kills his son, Rick Flag Jr., played by Joel Kinnaman. James Gunn directed the movie The Suicide Squad, and once he took over the franchise as the co-chief of DC Studios, he retained some aspects of the storyline.

Frank Grillo voiced Rick Flag Sr. in Creature Commandos, an animated show and the official kickstart of the DCU. All episodes were written by Gunn, and it saw the aftermath of Peacemaker season 1, where Amanda Waller’s shadow activities with the inmates of Belle Reve were exposed. Rick Flag Sr. was already mad at Peacemaker for the death of his son.

In Peacemaker season 2, Rick Flag Sr. is made the director of A.R.G.U.S., and he makes it his mission to take down Peacemaker. He relentlessly pursues him across dimensions and ruins his life. When branded as DC’s most hated character by fans, Frank Grillo defended Rick’s state of mind and actions (via MovieWeb).

Peacemaker killed my son! Let me help you here. He murdered my son, my child. Whose problem is it, mine or yours? You’re crazy.

And he is sort of right. While we see the show from Peacemaker’s point of view and have a better understanding of his trauma and growth, Rick Flag Sr. does not need to know any of that to avenge his son’s death. 

Avengers Star Teased Frank’s Future in Man of Tomorrow

Frank Grillo in Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Credits: Marvel Studios

Frank Grillo is one of the few actors who have been in both the MCU and the DCU now. He played Crossbones in the Marvel films, making his final appearance in Avengers: Endgame. However, his DCU role has been more appealing to fans, as Rick Flag Sr. has become foundational to the newly rebooted franchise.

While Grillo appeared in voice only on Creature Commandos, he made his live-action debut as Rick in Superman, where he also arrested the titular hero. He will be seen in the upcoming sequel by James Gunn, Man of Tomorrow. We do not know how much of a role the actor has in the film, since the cast is stacked, but he is definitely a returning member.

Talking about the sequel and his character’s journey, Grillo mentioned that there is growth in the character and that it was not the end of the line. He stated that his character had an integral part to play in Man of Tomorrow (via ScreenRant).

Superman 2, Man of Tomorrow, in a big way. He’s a big, integral part of Man of Tomorrow. And, certainly, I don’t think I’m out of line saying there’s more of Rick Flag after Man of Tomorrow. [Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart in Man of Tomorrow is in it], so the worlds do collide at some point. What Gunn is brilliant at doing is integrating the timelines, and it’s all about the timeline. So, we’ll see [about a fight with Flag], maybe.

A season 2 of Creature Commandos has been announced and is in production, where Frank Grillo might return again. If a season 2 of Lanterns is announced, he actually would be right at home in the detective thriller-esque superhero series. Either way, the character seems to be going far in the DCU.

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