Frank Grillo, who plays Rick Flag Sr. in the DC Universe, opens up about why he prefers his role in James Gunn’s new superhero franchise in comparison to his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the MCU timeline has been around since 2008, some actors who appeared in various Marvel Studios productions have also ended up being part of DC’s live-action legacy, too, including the newly launched DCU timeline. One of them is Grillo, who debuted as Rick Flag Sr. through animation in the Creature Commandos TV show, after portraying Brock Rumlow, a.k.a. Crossbones, in the MCU.
During the Tulsa King panel at FAN EXPO Dallas, moderated and hosted by ScreenRant’s own Joe Deckelmeier, Grillo looked back on his time with the MCU, while sharing why he is having a better time being part of the DCU franchise. After discussing the MCU’s Crossbones, Grillo explained what the upside is to playing a character like Flag Sr. in the DCU while working together with James Gunn:
Frank Grillo: Rick Flag Sr… It was unfortunate because Crossbones isn’t onscreen that much, and this is years ago. People love that character, and Marvel seems to have reused every other character except Crossbones. Now he’s popping up in Spider-Man comics and Daredevil comics because he’s a great villain, so I was expecting to have a lot of fun with it. But unfortunately, he perished kind of quickly. But I love working with James Gunn. I did the voice for Creature Commandos, and then I’m in Peacemaker, which is coming up in August. And before that, it’s Superman with Rick Flag. So, it’s different; it’s more of an adventure than the Marvel stuff was.
What Frank Grillo’s Comments Mean For The DC Universe
Looking at how Crossbones’ time in the MCU came to a very sudden conclusion, it’s understandable why Grillo’s new experience with the DCU is something that he is having a better time with, as DC Studios is already utilizing Flag Sr. in more ways than one. With the interconnectivity between DCU live-action and animated projects, Flag Sr. is already becoming a staple character who continues various threads across the franchise. As Grillo’s Flag Sr. makes his live-action debut with Superman in July, before returning in Peacemaker season 2, 2025 is already a rich year for the character compared to Crossbones.
While the MCU could have done more things with Crossbones, the super-villain instead got killed off in his second movie, Captain America: Civil War. Even though Flag Sr. may be a more obscure character, the DCU is wasting no time in making him a recurring player with an impact on the franchise. That is why Grillo’s casting for the DCU timeline was one of the most exciting ones for Creature Commandos season 1, as a talented actor gets another chance to be part of the comic book genre again.
Our Take On Frank Grillo’s DC Universe Comments
Image via Max
After hearing how Grillo is enjoying being Flag Sr. in the DCU, it will be fascinating to see how Superman and Peacemaker season 2 utilize him, and also where DC Studios uses the character after 2025. With the many DCU movies and TV shows that are coming up, there are plenty of opportunities for Grillo’s character for years to come. While the MCU may not have been the ideal experience for him, the DCU has thankfully given Grillo a lot to work with as Flag Sr.
Tulsa King can be streamed on Paramount+.
Upcoming DC Movie Releases
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Superman
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July 11, 2025
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Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
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June 26, 2026
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The Batman Part II
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October 1, 2027
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