Frank Grillo Explains Why He Prefers His DC Role Over Marvel’s Crossbones

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Frank Grillo initially ventured into the superhero genre by portraying the character Frank Grillo, also known as Crossbones, within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, his current role as Rick Flag Sr. in the DC Universe is offering him more substantial opportunities. You may have heard his voice as this character in the Max-exclusive animated series Creature Commandos, and he’s set to reappear in James Gunn’s Superman next month, followed by the second season of Peacemaker when it airs on the 2025 TV schedule in August. Grillo has already expressed his preference for Flag over Crossbones, which he elaborated upon in a recent interview.

As the much-anticipated release of Superman draws nearer in the 2025 movie lineup, Frank Grillo recently talked about portraying Rick Flag Sr. during a panel at Fan EXPO Dallas (as reported by ScreenRant). The actor, who plays Bill Bevilaqua in the crime drama series “Tulsa King,” which can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription, explained why he finds his role in the DC Universe more rewarding, stating:

It’s a pity that Crossbones didn’t appear often on screen back then, as fans adore this character. Marvel seems to have utilized most other characters, but not Crossbones. However, he’s now appearing in Spider-Man and Daredevil comics due to his popularity as a formidable villain. I was excited about exploring this role. Unfortunately, his demise came rather swiftly. Nevertheless, I enjoy collaborating with James Gunn. I provided the voice for Creature Commandos, and I’m set to appear in Peacemaker, which premieres in August. Before that, there’s Superman featuring Rick Flag. So, it’s a departure from the Marvel series; it’s more about an adventure.

In the film “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Brock Rumlow was subtly introduced as one of HYDRA’s operatives hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D. This paved the way for him to transform into Crossbones in future storylines. However, Crossbones was abruptly killed off at the start of “Captain America: Civil War,” and since then, Frank Grillo has portrayed alternate versions of the character in “Avengers: Endgame” and several episodes of “What If…?”. Grillo had anticipated a more substantial role for Crossbones, but this didn’t materialize as planned.

Frank Grillo’s role as Rick Flag Sr. appears to be significantly larger than expected, considering the DC Universe is still relatively new, having started less than a year ago. Yet, given that Flag seems to take on a Nick Fury-esque role in this franchise, it’s not surprising that he’s being introduced into various aspects of it. These recent comments echo what Grillo said last December, expressing his preference for the DC Universe over the MCU due to its more “limited” and “intimate” nature.

In the upcoming seasons of “Superman” and “Peacemaker,” we’ll witness Frank Grillo stepping into the role of Rick Flag Sr. on both big and small screens. Additionally, fans can expect him to lend his voice once more when “Creature Commandos” Season 2 debuts on Max.

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2025-06-03 16:07