DC's new era kicks off with an unconventional choice - an adult animated series featuring monsters, robots, and supernatural beings. "Creature Commandos," now streaming on Max, introduces Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., leading an unlikely team of misfits on dangerous government missions.
The series marks the beginning of James Gunn's vision for the DC Universe, choosing to launch with animated content before the highly anticipated "Superman" film arrives in theaters. Grillo's character Rick Flag Sr. will make the jump from animation to live-action, appearing alongside David Corenswet's Superman in 2025.
Speaking about his DC co-star, Grillo drew parallels between Corenswet and a beloved Superman of the past. "With David there's something very Christopher Reeve about him," Grillo noted. "There's something about this guy... I was like, 'oh, this guy is Superman.'"
In "Creature Commandos," Grillo's Flag Sr. heads Task Force M, a team assembled by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) after she's banned from using human operatives. The squad includes the Bride (Indira Varma), Dr. Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), Nina Mazursky (Zoe Chao), Weasel (Sean Gunn), and G.I. Robot (James Gunn).
The adult-oriented series follows the team's mission in Pokolistan, where they assist Princess Ilana (Maria Bakalova) against the sorceress Circe (Anya Chalotra). The story features unexpected twists, relationships, and complications from the Bride's former flame, Eric Frankenstein (David Harbour).
This launch represents DC's new strategy of releasing two movies and two Max series annually, building an interconnected universe similar to Marvel's successful model. Characters will cross between animation and live-action, with careful casting choices made to support this approach.
The series sets the stage for DC's "Gods and Monsters" chapter, which includes the upcoming "Superman" film, "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," and other Max series like "Peacemaker" and "Lanterns."