Frank Grillo Compares The DCU To The MCU And Shots Were Fired

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The superhero genre remains hugely influential, and DC co-CEO James Gunn has launched the initial lineup of projects for DCU (known as “Gods and Monsters”) with a mix of two television shows and a movie, all starring Frank Grillo. Remarkably, he previously appeared in three Marvel Cinematic Universe projects, playing Crossbones. Recently, the 60-year-old actor shared his experience working on these two massive franchises, and it’s clear there were some pointed comments exchanged.

Joseph David-Jones first appeared as Rick Flag Sr. in the streaming series “Creature Commandos,” available on HBO Max. He later reprised this role in “Superman” and Season 2 of “Peacemaker.” Remarkably, he is one of the few actors who has been part of every DC Universe project to date. In a chat with People, he discussed the most significant disparity between the DCU and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as he put it:

(Note that the conversation with People and specific quotes were not provided in the original text.)

The structure isn’t identical. It feels more like each script presents itself clearly, giving you a solid grasp of the narrative flow. While this approach is fine, Marvel, on the other hand, can sometimes seem a bit unpredictable and spontaneous.

It’s clear that he wasn’t beating around the bush when he spoke about it. To the outside world, the Marvel Cinematic Universe might appear to run smoothly with a steady stream of movies in theaters and on Disney+. However, from what he shared, being part of this interconnected universe feels more like an unpredictable ride without a safety harness. In simpler terms, he described it as winging it.

Marvel’s security is famously strict, often keeping scripts under lock and key and shielding actors from detailed information to protect its secrets. In contrast, when Grillo began working on the DCU, he was struck by the transparency of the scripts, which offered him a comprehensive understanding of both Rick Flag Sr.’s character and the emerging interconnected universe.

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In a later interview, the actor who portrayed Grillo as Brock Rumlow in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” shared that his character’s S.H.I.E.L.D. agent was secretly working for HYDRA. This significant role was followed by brief but impactful appearances in “Civil War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” During the interview, he also discussed the challenges of filming those scenes due to Marvel’s stringent security measures.

For me, it’s a little scary to do it that way.

In my opinion as a movie reviewer, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is famed not only for the enigma surrounding its scripts but also for undergoing substantial reshoots prior to theater releases. Take, for instance, “Captain America: Brave New World” that eliminated entire characters or “Black Widow,” where every scene involving the villain was reworked. However, judging by John Cena’s (Dutchman/Peacemaker) experience working with James Gunn in the DCU, it appears they have a more cohesive and decisive vision for their projects.

In the upcoming Season 2 of “Peacemaker,” Frank Grillo will make an appearance. This series is set to broadcast fresh episodes every Thursday, and it’s scheduled to air as part of the 2025 television lineup on HBO Max.

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2025-09-01 19:08