James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad set the stage for a new wave of thrilling stories in the DC Universe, coming to theaters before his promotion to DC Studios co-CEO alongside Peter Safran. Seen as part-reboot and part-sequel, this movie used some of the cast from 2016’s original Suicide Squad (directed by David Ayer) and featured nearly two dozen main characters overall, although many of them did not make it out of the opening sequence. Following this movie’s release, which came during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2021, the fate of the greater DC changed for good, as Gunn took over the franchise and announced his new movie/TV slate.
Among the dead in The Suicide Squad was Joel Kinnaman‘s Rick Flag Jr., who serves as the commanding officer for the titular team in both movies. One of only four actors who starred in both movies, Rick Flag was part of one of the most dramatic moments in The Suicide Squad, going down in battle against Peacemaker (John Cena) after trying to release secrets about the U.S. government’s involvement in Project Starfish. While he would later return for a surprise role in Peacemaker Season 2, it remained to be seen whether Kinnaman’s tenure in the DC Universe would end after only three appearances.
Speaking with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley on Coffee Chats, Joel Kinnaman confirmed that he has made his last appearance as Rick Flag Jr. in the DC Universe. Asked if audiences had seen the last of the former fighter pilot in the DCU, Kinnaman bluntly replied, “I would say so.” After playing a main role in 2016’s Suicide Squad and 2021’s The Suicide Squad, Kinnaman made a shocking appearance in Season 2, Episode 3 of Peacemaker as another version of Rick Flag. He was seen in the alternate Earth-X reality, dating Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt, with Kinnaman reflecting on this character as “an alternate universe, mealy-mouthed Rick, as [he] and James called him.”
Considering Rick Flag Jr. was tragically killed off in The Suicide Squad, it is no surprise that his journey in the DCU has come to an end. On top of that, Peacemaker Season 2 made his death a major plot point, as his father, Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), made it his personal mission to bring Christopher Smith down for killing Kinnaman’s character. Getting a fun opportunity to reprise the role in the new DCU as a much different iteration of his high-powered fighter, Kinnaman seemed to use that show as his swan song before moving on to new ventures outside of the superhero movie world.
Moving forward, Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. will continue to play a big role in the DCU, with appearances in Creature Commandos, Superman, and Peacemaker Season 2 already under his belt. He is also confirmed for a key supporting role in 2027’s Man of Tomorrow, which will pit him alongside Superman and Lex Luthor as they take on the threat of Brainiac.
All of Joel Kinnaman’s appearances in the DC Universe are available to stream on HBO Max.
