Frank Grillo Teases That Rick Flag SR.’s DCU Story Won’t End With ‘Man of Tomorrow’

Few characters in James Gunn’s DC Universe have quietly grown in importance quite like Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. The father of Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag from the ‘Suicide Squad’ films first appeared as a voice role in the animated ‘Creature Commandos’ before making the leap to live action in ‘Superman’.

His arc took a darker turn in ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2. In the finale, Flag Sr. used Peacemaker’s dimension-opening alien device to create a prison for metahumans, leaving John Cena’s Peacemaker trapped on the other side and setting up plenty of fallout for the wider DCU.

Now Grillo has offered his biggest tease yet about where the character is headed. Speaking with Screen Rant while promoting ‘Tulsa King’ Season 4, he described Flag Sr. as a “big, integral part of Man of Tomorrow.”

He then went a step further. “I don’t think I’m out of line saying there’s more of Rick Flag after Man of Tomorrow,” Grillo added, suggesting his story will continue beyond the Superman sequel.

Grillo also confirmed that Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart appears in the film, noting that the different corners of the DCU eventually collide. He praised Gunn’s skill at weaving together the franchise’s timelines, a hint that the sequel will draw on threads from several projects.

That fits with what fans have already seen. Flag Sr.’s journey has spanned animation, film, and television, making him one of the clearest connective threads in Gunn’s universe. This isn’t the first time Grillo has teased an expanded role. He previously told The Hollywood Reporter that Flag Sr. would be a big part of the sequel’s story, adding that he was excited about it.

He has also joked about the character’s look. Grillo said he expected his next appearance to resemble the white-haired animated version from ‘Creature Commandos’, quipping that fans had been tough on his dark hair.

Filming on ‘Man of Tomorrow’ was scheduled to begin in April 2026 in the United Kingdom and Georgia. Grillo wrapped his main work in May before heading back to Atlanta about 7 weeks later to shoot additional scenes.

The first trailer for ‘PEACEMAKER’ Season 2 has been released. Releasing August 21 on Max. https://t.co/xUamuNb2Fh

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Gunn has since confirmed that the first assembly cut of the film is complete. The director is also already writing his next movie, keeping the DCU’s momentum moving. Brainiac is widely reported to be the villain, while Gunn has described the film as just as much a Lex Luthor story as a Superman one. Returning faces include Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane and Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner.

The sequel follows a successful first outing. ‘Superman’ grossed over $600 million worldwide and earned an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from nearly 500 reviews.

Grillo didn’t reveal where the character will appear after ‘Man of Tomorrow’. ‘Peacemaker’ might seem like the obvious home, but Cena has said that show is taking a back seat while Gunn focuses on establishing Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

That could point to more of Flag Sr. on the movie side of the franchise. Given the character’s growing influence and the unresolved fallout from ‘Peacemaker’, he seems well positioned to become a recurring force in the DCU.

For a figure who began as a voice in an animated series, Rick Flag Sr.’s rise has been remarkable. Grillo’s comments suggest Gunn sees him as a long-term piece of the puzzle rather than a one-off supporting player. Fans will have to wait for the sequel to see exactly how big his role turns out to be. For now, Grillo’s confidence is a promising sign for anyone invested in the character.

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