Joel Kinnaman Claims ‘Peacemaker’ Was His Last Time as Rick Flag Jr. in the DCU

by

James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad kicked off a fresh, exciting direction for the DC Universe, arriving in theaters before he became co-CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran. It acted as both a sequel and a fresh start, bringing back some actors from the 2016 Suicide Squad (directed by David Ayer) while introducing a large cast of nearly two dozen characters – though not all of them survived the beginning! Released in August 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the film ultimately changed the future of DC, as Gunn then took control of the franchise and revealed his plans for new movies and TV shows.

Rick Flag Jr., played by Joel Kinnaman, died in The Suicide Squad. He led the team in both Suicide Squad films and was one of only four actors to appear in both. His death came during a tense fight with Peacemaker (John Cena) after Rick tried to reveal the truth about the government’s involvement with Project Starfish. Although Kinnaman later made a cameo appearance in Season 2 of Peacemaker, it wasn’t clear if this would be his last role in the DC Universe, after only appearing in three projects.

I was really surprised to hear Joel Kinnaman confirm he’s finished playing Rick Flag Jr. in the DC Universe! He was chatting with ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley on Coffee Chats and, when asked if we’d seen the last of his character, he pretty much said yes. It’s sad because he’s been great in the role, first in Suicide Squad back in 2016, then again in The Suicide Squad in 2021. And then, just when you thought that was it, he popped up in Peacemaker! It was wild seeing another version of Rick Flag, especially in that alternate Earth-X reality where he was dating Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland). He and James Gunn apparently nicknamed that version “mealy-mouthed Rick,” which is hilarious. It really feels like the end of an era for his portrayal of the character.

It’s understandable that Joel Kinnaman’s time as Rick Flag Jr. in the DC Universe is over, especially after his character died in The Suicide Squad. This death was even a key part of Season 2 of Peacemaker, motivating his father to seek revenge. Kinnaman seemed to view reprising the role as a final, enjoyable opportunity before focusing on other projects outside of superhero films.

Rick Flag Sr., played by Grillo, will remain an important character in the DC Universe. He’s already appeared in Creature Commandos, Superman, and will be in Season 2 of Peacemaker. He’s also confirmed to have a significant supporting role in the 2027 film Man of Tomorrow, where he’ll work with Superman and Lex Luthor to fight Brainiac.

All of Joel Kinnaman’s appearances in the DC Universe are available to stream on HBO Max.

Read More

2026-04-09 21:32