For anyone requiring an overview of coming DC projects, SUPERMAN (2025) is the next film to hit theaters. It'll introduce audiences to a new variety of characters from the annals of DC comics, alongside familiar faces like Clark Kent (David Corenswet), Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). Among those new additions is Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo). He's the Secretary of Defense in the fictional DC universe and is an informal ambassador between the United States military and the metahuman squad led by Ultraman and The Engineer (Maria Gabriela de Faria). His role within this vigilante team remains unclear.
In any case, Grillo's character survives whatever obstacles lie ahead in SUPERMAN (2025), as evidenced by another casting announcement. He'll also appear in the sophomore season of MAX's Peacemaker series later this year. Flag Sr. doesn't have a specific purpose for joining the show's cast, although it's possible he's seeking justice for his son, who died at Christopher Smith's hands.
In The Suicide Squad, Christopher Smith stabbed Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) in the heart with a ceramic shard, killing him in the process. Even though Smith claimed to have killed his comrade/friend for the greater good, from what we've seen since then, Smith's remorse and deep-seated guilt prove that he recognizes his wrongdoing.
Still, Frank Grillo reprising his role as Flag Sr. on the MAX show sets a new precedent for characters crossing over from one medium to another. Grillo's character already did it once, transitioning from animated format to live-action, and now he'll be going from movies to TV shows.
There's also a level of curiosity surrounding which characters James Gunn intends to rework into the DC Cinematic Universe and associated episodic series. Currently, not many existing characters stand out. However, if the floodgates are open for any TV-based character to join the movie universe, Warner Bros. should take a second look at some of the actors who played classic DC heroes in the Arrowverse.
The CW Crossover Fans Deserve
Given that Warner Bros has yet to cast a Green Arrow, reaching out to Stephen Amell might be a worthwhile idea. His portrayal of both Oliver Queen and the vigilante persona was widely praised, and if anyone deserves a chance in the cinematic realm, it's Amell.
Similarly, the franchise doesn't currently have a Barry Allen/Flash to speak of. Ezra Miller could return, but with his track record of legal troubles, Warner Bros. is unlikely to recast him in a future project. It may be for the better, too, because in the scenario of auditions becoming open to anyone, The CW's Grant Gustin would be a shoo-in.
Various individuals from the TV-based universe show equal promise, although priority should go to the leads before any ancillary characters enter the conversation. That said, July and August should be interesting months for the expansion of Warner Bros.' comic-book-centric universe.
SUPERMAN opens in theaters on July 11, 2025. Peacemaker Season Two debuts on MAX on August 21, 2025.