Actor Frank Grillo is among a select few who have acted in both the will play Rick Flag, Sr. in the DCU. As such, he has unique insight into what both franchises are like.
In an interview with Cinema Blend, the actor said that Marvel has "been in trouble a little bit because they got, I think, way over their skis, so to speak." He then elaborated that the manner in which James Gunn and Peter Safran are crafting the DCU "creates a cohesiveness and an understanding of the character" through using the same actors across animated and live-action projects.
Grillo continued: "more importantly, [Gunn] understands how to utilize them in each story. And so there's not an egregious number of people who you’re like, ‘Why is he (here)? What's this? Are they trying to throw this character in just because?’ They have a different approach. We'll see how it works out. But I feel a difference in it." Grillo is slated to appear in a number of DCU projects, from Creature Commandos to Superman. This certainly lends credence to his statement that there is more emphasis on shared continuity at DC.
What Grillo's DCU And MCU Comments Mean
Grillo knows better than many what the experience of starring in the DCU is like compared to being in the MCU. His comments that DC is faring better than Marvel these days likely have some merit to them. However, it is worth noting two things.
Firstly, Grillo starred in the MCU during the Infinity Saga when the general audience resonated better with the studio's output. Secondly, he starred as a ing character in only two films. While his time as Crossbones left an impression, it was a smaller part than that which he will play in the DCU.
Our Take On Frank Grillo's DCU And MCU Comments
Regardless, the actor's comments bode well for the future of Gunn and Safran's DCU. Having a cohesive plan of how each story connects and fits into the broader continuity is part of what made the initial films of the MCU a success. Gunn and Safran are putting their own spin on the same approach, utilizing performers such as Grillo across multiple mediums.
Is Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. going to be the DCU's Nick Fury?
Remarkably, Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. is set to star in the DCU's animated series Creature Commandos, the live-action Superman movie, and Peacemaker season 2. To that end, I'm wondering if he's going to have a similar role in the DCU as the MCU's Nick Fury or Agent Phil Coulson, a key figure serving as connective tissue between projects.
This overarching story is what more recent Marvel films have lacked, creating an interesting opportunity for DC to possibly outdo their biggest competition within the superhero space. The DCU will, either way, ha.ve to make a big impression on audiences to dent the MCU's level of success.
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- Created by
- Kevin Feige
- First Film
- Iron Man
- First TV Show
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Cast
- Jonathan Majors
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
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- Created by
- Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
- First Film
- Man of Steel
- First TV Show
- Peacemaker
- Cast
- Xolo Mariduena
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
