Written by Jeremy Fascaldo
When Guardians of the Galaxy was released, I was fascinated by how unconventional it was compared to other superhero and action films of the time. What made this work and its successors (Guardians of the Galaxy Volumes 2 and 3) stand out was its indie author visionary, James Gunn. He was previously known for his time at Troma Pictures and for “Slither” and “Super.”
In 2018, Gunn was hired by Warner Bros. to write and direct 2021’s The Suicide Squad (not to be confused with 2016’s Suicide Squad), and its spinoff Peacemaker. I will be in charge of writing, directing, and producing the movie (starring John Cena). He is currently the CEO of DC Studios.
And among the upcoming projects under his direction is Creature Commandos, an adult animated series debuting Dec. 5 on Max. At New York Comic Con on Saturday, Gunn, co-executive producer Dean Lawrie, and the voice actors appeared on a Creature Commandos panel to talk about the series.
Following the events of ‘The Suicide Squad’ and ‘Peacemaker’ season 1, the Creature Commandos track down Amanda Waller (played again by Viola Davis) and dispatch another monster black ops team . The team includes Dr. Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), Eric Frankenstein (David Harbour), The Bride (Indira Varma), Nina Mazursky (Zoe Chao), GI Robot and Weasel (Sean Gun) and is led by Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo). , John Economos, played by Steve Agee and the father of Colonel Rick Flagg Jr., is also set to return to the big screen, making this his third appearance. Michael Rooker, Benjamin Byron Davis, Greg Henry, Linda Cardellini, and Peter Serafinowicz have been confirmed as the show’s first guest stars.
During the panel discussion, the voice cast, Gunn, and Laurie took center stage to share insights into recording, the creative process, and the psychology of the characters. Gunn revealed that he would oversee the voice acting, while the animation team (Bobby Pills and Warner Bros. Animation) would be given complete creative freedom. Animation veteran Rick Morales serves as supervising producer.
Regarding character development, Harbor said that you will fall in love with the characters, but will be appalled and furious at their bad decisions. A baby cried in the panel audience, prompting someone to joke, “This is the Creature Commando audience.” This was supported by director Gunn, who said it would be different from the Guardians of the Galaxy movie. He claims this is the saddest show of his career.
Gunn further elaborated on the script and broke down the story structure. The first episode brings the team together. In each subsequent episode, we learn the backstory of a specific character based on that chapter’s theme and focus. For example, Doctor Phosphorus’ backstory is explored, including how he became a monster. Haber said the story of Frankenstein ties in with the classic themes of Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, but will have new interpretations.
As for how this relates to the larger DCU, Gunn admitted that you don’t need to see any other shows or movies, past or present, to understand Creature Commando. There may be some nods or easter eggs to these stories, but they’ll probably be more of a reference than a plot point.
Building on the larger DCU connections, the panel pivoted towards a cosmic future connected to other DCU movies. It has been confirmed that Frank Grillo’s Rick Flagg Sr. will play an important and integral role in the upcoming DCU. He has already appeared in Season 2 of “Superman” and “Peacemaker.”
Regarding Superman, Gunn said that Krypto will play a great role in the story and that David Corenswet will surprise everyone as the Man of Tomorrow. He also admitted that the movie is currently in post-production, so it could be a while before a trailer is released.
He also confirmed that Supergirl: Women of Tomorrow already has Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) on board to direct. Millie Alcock has already been screen tested. The script will be written by actress and playwright Ana Nogueira (The Michael J. Fox Show, The Vampire Diaries, Hightown). Filming is expected to begin in the UK in January. And this movie will give us a different take on the Women of Tomorrow. The film is inspired by Tom King’s comic book “The Women of Tomorrow.” King has been confirmed as a writer for the upcoming TV series “Lanterns,” about the Green Lantern Corps.
Finally, the panel also featured the upcoming Creature Commandos toys in collaboration with Funko Pop and McFarlane Toys.
Overall, I feel very hopeful about the future of both Creature Commando and the DC Universe under director James Gunn. I’ve always been fascinated by his filmmaking style and his evolution from a writer to a visionary auteur. I hope that other directors and showrunners can reach the same heights under his guidance.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker movies all revolve around misfits, criminals, and misunderstood people trying to get better, or at least do the right thing. It feels special to me and others because it touches me.
Creature Commandos will debut on Max on December 5th.
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