1 MCU star now holds an incredible comic book record that no one will ever match

After his occupation in the DCU and MCU, Frank Grillo can now claim a comic book film record that no one can take away from him. 2025. The confirmed cast for Superman – which we now know also includes Grillo as Rick Flag Sr. – sees the Man of Steel socializing with a significant number of DC superheroes, including Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, and Angela Spica’s Engineer, to name a few.

Frank Grillo is best known for his roles in action films, not least due to his proven athleticism and skills in various martial arts. It is therefore no surprise that he has been cast in another comic book film that follows on from his role as Brock Rumlow, AKA Crossbones, in the MCU. After Crossbones’ death in Captain America: Civil WarGrillo’s second outing as Flag Sr. means he has a unique track record in comic book adaptations.

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Frank Grillo’s DCU film debut has a big parallel to his MCU role

Frank Grillo plays Rick Flag Sr. in Supermanthe father of Rick Flag Jr., who died in 2016 Suicide Squad and the soft restart in 2021, The suicide squad. Rick Flag Sr. is set to star in the animated DCU show for the first time Creature Commandsbut photos from the set have shown that He will then star alongside David Corenswet in Superman. These set photos show Rick Flag Sr. involved in the apparent arrest of Superman. This set-up seems to indicate that the character could take on an antagonistic role, and puts Grillo in a very familiar position.

Rick Flag Sr.’s arrest of Superman is comparable to Brock Rumlow’s arrest of Captain America In Captain America: The Winter SoldierIn both cases, Grillo’s character is impressively inferior to the hero they are trying to arrest, but apparently manages to handcuff both of them. Judging by what is happening in the Superman However, the set photos both had very different results, as Superman appears to obey while Cap makes a quick example of his would-be captors. Yet both scenes have an even deeper meaning.

Why Frank Grillo’s Superman and Captain America record is so special

Although Captain America is not the MCU’s answer to Superman in terms of power, the two characters have a lot in common. Captain America and Superman are the pinnacle of virtue in their respective franchises. Both characters have an innate drive to do the right thing above all else, which can bring them into conflict with only slightly less conscientious heroes like Iron Man and Batman.

Grillo’s obvious track record of portraying a militaristic character tasked with apprehending a physically superior being is one thing, but the fact that he apprehends two paragons of heroism in both cases is a particularly notable pattern. On the role Rick Flag Sr. plays in Superman beyond assisting in his arrest. Nevertheless, his involvement in the compliance of such a virtuous character makes it difficult not to draw parallels between the DCURick Flag Sr. and the extremely villainous Brock Rumlow.

Superman (2025)

Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first film in Warner Bros.’ rebooted DC Universe to focus on the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill left the role and celebrates the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way of life.”

Release date

July 11, 2025

Pour

David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, María Gabriela De Faría, Edi Gathegi, Nicholas Hoult, Frank Grillo, Nathan Fillion, Milly Alcock, Sara Sampaio, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Skyler Gisondo, Anthony Carrigan, Wendell Pierce, Beck Bennett, Sean Gunn

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