SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Clears Up DCU Timeline Confusion Regarding Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr.

SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Clears Up DCU Timeline Confusion Regarding Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr.

Superman director James Gunn has addressed some of the confusion surrounding the DCU timeline, specifically regarding the fact Rick Flag Sr.'s beard colour has changed between animation and live-action.

By JoshWilding - Nov 12, 2024 06:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

The Suicide Squad featured the shocking death of Rick Flag, a moment which proved pivotal in Peacemaker when Christopher Smith was forced to come to terms with the murder he'd committed at the behest of Amanda Waller.

While the DCEU is being rebooted as the DCU by James Gunn, many ideas from his past projects will carry over. That's created a lot of confusion among fans, though it can likely be explained by at least some of what happened before having still taken place in this new reality. 

That's likely why Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. will be on a mission of revenge, targeting Peacemaker after what he did to his son. 

Gunn was asked on Threads about the fact Grillo's beard colour is different across Creature Commandos and his live-action appearances. When it was put to him that "some are linking [Rick Flag Sr.'s] hair with the timeline," the filmmaker responded, "Link it more with Grillo simultaneously shooting Tulsa King."

He'd then clarify, "[Peacemaker season 2] is after [Superman] which is after [Creature Commandos]."

As rumours continue to swirl about when we'll get a first look at Superman, Gunn was also quizzed on whether he's watched a full cut of the movie yet. To that, he said, "I've watched it dozens of times."

New footage from Peacemaker and Creature Commandos can be found in the player below.

"He is a really cool character that Frank has been molding," Gunn previously said of Grillo's take on Rick Flag Sr. "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."

"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," the filmmaker continued. "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."

Superman tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Superman is set to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025. Creature Commandos arrives on December 5 and Peacemaker season 2 is slated for a 2025 debut.

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Mrcool210
Mrcool210 - 11/12/2024, 7:20 AM
People are using any excuse to shit on James Gunn on Twitter and praise Zack Snyder and this has been the newest thing. I can't wait for the Superman trailer to come out to hopefully shut people up.

Much less of "Zack Snyder is the best, James Gunn is a pedo. He doesn't get superman, corensweat killed my dog"

User Comment Image
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 11/12/2024, 7:29 AM
@Mrcool210 - User Comment Image
The1st
The1st - 11/12/2024, 9:54 AM
@TheFinestSmack - He's eating the cat.

Selina Kyle: Not even.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 11/12/2024, 10:45 AM
@Mrcool210 - it's truly insufferable
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 11/12/2024, 7:25 AM
Like I keep saying, James talks too much. Have a solid plan before running your mouth.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 11/12/2024, 7:37 AM
In other words, they’ve already failed to maintain continuity before any one of these projects have dropped.

What a shit show 😂
eagc1995
eagc1995 - 11/12/2024, 1:20 PM
@FireandBlood - I wouldn't worry much about the white hair, i take it more a stylistic choice for the series.

And heck even Marvel pulled the same stunt with Ross. Ross hair in Hulk is mostly grey (but you can still make out some color) But by Civil War he appears like if he's starting to grey out, despite the fact it should've been completely grey hair by now
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 11/12/2024, 7:44 AM
After all this time, DC still struggling with facial hair in films.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 11/12/2024, 7:48 AM
Sorry but he actually thinks "Link it more with Grillo simultaneously shooting Tulsa King" is a valid excuse? It's like Cavill's moustache all over again.
RedFury
RedFury - 11/12/2024, 12:03 PM
@Urubrodi - how is it not a valid excuse? Animation takes a long time to create, which means it was in production long before they figured out Grillos shoot dates for Peacemaker and Superman. Shit happens, and you adjust, that's all this situation is.

Plus it's just a beard colour... It's not like they're going to spend thousands of dollars to get the animators to go back and change the colour of his hair in every frame just so the cartoon version matches the live action version lol.
ImNotaBot
ImNotaBot - 11/12/2024, 8:01 AM
who tf cares about the colour of Rick Flag Sr hair? its animation and live action, just say he died his hair black in a midlife crisis, done.
I swear man “fans” cry about the dumbest shit, soon they’ll start complaining about the continuity of Superman pubic hair.
Negaduck
Negaduck - 11/12/2024, 8:35 AM
@ImNotaBot - yes [frick]ing crybabies will complain about anything
ImNotaBot
ImNotaBot - 11/12/2024, 9:00 AM
@ImNotaBot - dyed* (fking spellchecker)
Forthas
Forthas - 11/12/2024, 8:54 AM
FAN: So is Tulsa King DC canon?

GUNN: Did it do well in the ratings?

FAN:Yeah!

GUNN: Then yes it is canon. Part of my master plan!
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 11/12/2024, 11:46 AM
Had a feeling that would happen the moment I saw concept art of Rick in Commandos

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