(L to R) Frank Grillo and director James Gunn on the set of ‘Peacemaker’ season 2. Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
Preview:
Frank Grillo will join ‘Peacemaker’ for Season 2.
He’s playing Rick Flag Sr.
It’s a role he’ll also voice in the animated series Creature Commandos.
We already knew that genre favorite and all-round bad-ass Frank Grillo had made the leap from the MCU to DC for one of the first projects in James Gunn’s new vision for the DC universe of movies and TV series, as he’d been cast to voice Rick Flag Sr. in the animated series ‘Creature Commandos’.
Now, though, he’s taking Rick into live-action territory, as he’ll also play the character in Season 2 of ‘Peacemaker’, which was created by Gunn.
‘Peacemaker’ continues the story of Christopher Smith (John Cena), the violent, insecure vigilante who was first brought to cinema screens in Gunn’s 2021 ‘The Suicide Squad’.
The series broadened and –– yes, even deepened –– our understanding of the character, showing his fractured family background and even more neuroses. All the while introducing an alien scheme to take over the world and a group of other characters he interacts with.
Nothing has been revealed about what the second season will be about, though there were some dangling plot threads.
But with the presence of Flag Sr., we have one very big clue. Because in ‘The Suicide Squad’, Smith was ordered to stop Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman) from delivering evidence to the press of the American government’s involvement in an alien conspiracy. He did so by killing him. You’d have to figure that Flag’s dad will come looking for a little vengeance…
Who is making ‘Peacemaker’?
(L to R) Frank Grillo and director James Gunn on the set of ‘Peacemaker’ season 2. Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
Gunn wrote all of Season 1 and it appears he’s also scripted the vast majority of the second season, also. He directed five of that season’s eight-episode run.
And despite already being hard at work on ‘Superman’ (which is in production for an 11th July 2025 release), he’s somehow found time to direct several episodes of the new ‘Peacemaker’ season.
DC Studios’ ‘Creature Commandos.’ Photo: DC and Warner Bros.
‘Creature Commandos’ adapts Pat Broderick and| J.M. DeMatteis’ comic book series, and focuses on a black ops team of monsters assembled by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), led by Flag Sr. Among the characters we have the Bride of Frankenstein, Dr. Phosphorous, Eric Frankenstein, G.I. Robot and Weasel.
The show will launch on the Max streaming service later this year.
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When will ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 be on screens?
James Gunn has yet to announce when ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 will arrive on Max, but in Eagly we trust!
The film is set after the events of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’, where we find the band of misfits in their new home on Knowhere. Unexpectedly, a new powerful enemy crashes in and injures Rocket, and if the Guardians don’t act fast enough, it could mean life or death for their teammate.
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The official synopsis for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ is below:
“In Marvel Studios ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.”
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ opened in theaters on May 5th, 2023, to $118.4 million domestically and has grossed over $348.5 million since its opening. Worldwide box office earnings have grossed over $825.3 million since its release. This was a highly anticipated film among Marvel fans and is certified Fresh on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with an 82% score from critics and a 94% score from the audience.
The team faces brand new threats in this movie, with the stakes being higher than ever when it involves one of the members of the team. Still recovering from his heartbreak and loss of Gamora, Peter Quill and his band of misfits are settled in on Knowhere when Adam Warlock crashes in.
Adam Warlock has long been teased to appear in the MCU since ‘Thor: Dark World’ and the first ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ However, it was in the post-credit scene in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2’ that confirmed his appearance. Played by Will Poulter, the MCU’s Adam Warlock origin differs from the comics. Instead of being created by scientists, Adam Warlock in the film is a Sovereign warrior created by the high priestess Ayesha and The High Evolutionary.
The film also introduces The High Evolutionary (played by Chukwudi Iwuji) to the MCU. A geneticist whose personal mission is to create the perfect species, he abducted various creatures for his experiment, with Rocket Raccoon (then named 89P13) being one of his test subjects. When Rocket points out the flaws in The High Evolutionary’s project, it confuses and angers him to the point where he orders Rocket’s brain to be removed so that he can study him.
Rocket manages to escape. Years later, when The High Evolutionary learns of his involvement with the Guardians of the Galaxy, he orders Adam Warlock to retrieve him at all costs.
When it comes to the Guardians of the Galaxy, we know we’re in for a grand space adventure, with hilarious banter between the Guardians. However, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ takes on a more somber and emotional tone. With director James Gunn being the co-chairman of DC Studios, this is likely the final film he’ll direct for Marvel. This movie not only wraps up the adventures of the current team of the Guardians, but it also dives into the origin story of Rocket.
Previously named 89P13, Rocket Raccoon is subjected to tests and experiments by The High Evolutionary. In flashback scenes, we meet Rocket’s fellow cagemates Floor, Teefs, and Lylla. The four friends found comfort in each other, often playing games and daydreaming about the “forever and beautiful sky.” The message of animal cruelty is not missed in the film, and what The High Evolutionary does to Rocket and his friends will send a shock through your system and gives you an insight into some of Rocket’s hardened personality.
Though the Guardians tend to bicker with each other, the group has become quite close-knit. Once Rocket’s life is on the line, his friends will stop at nothing to save him, even if it means sacrificing themselves. Rocket is definitely the heart of this story and we suggest you have some tissues on standby when you watch.
Where Can I Watch ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’?
(L to R) Karen Gillan as Nebula, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
The film premiered at Disneyland Paris on April 22nd, 2023. Later, the US premiere was held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, on April 27th, 2023. The movie is still showing in theaters, so be sure to check with Moviefone below for showtimes in your area. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes, making it the longest film in the Guardians franchise.
Watch the official trailers for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3’ below:
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Can’t make it out to the theater? You will soon have the option to rent or purchase the movie on VOD. Services such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Movies Anywhere will have the movie available digitally on July 7th, 2023.
As for as streaming goes, an official date hasn’t been confirmed. The movie is released by Disney so it is likely to end up on Disney+ once it is ready to go to streaming.
For those who prefer physical copies, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ will be available on DVD/Blu-Ray on August 1st, 2023, complete with special features such as featurettes, deleted scenes, director’s commentary, and gag reel.
To watch our exclusive interview with writer/director James Gunn and Chris Pratt about ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3,’ please click on the video player below.
