After being cast in the DCU and MCU, Frank Grillo can now claim a comic book movie record that nobody will ever be able to take away from him. 2025’s. The confirmed cast for Superman – which we now know includes Grillo as Rick Flag Sr – has the Man of Steel rubbing shoulders 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 starring in action movies, thanks in no small part to his proven athleticism and proficiency in various martial arts. It is no surprise, then, that he has been cast in another comic book movie, which follows on from his role as Brock Rumlow, AKA Crossbones, in the MCU. Following Crossbones’ death in Captain America: Civil War, Grillo’s second appearance as Flag Sr means he has a unique comic book movie record.

Frank Grillo’s DCU Movie Debut Has A Major Parallel With His MCU Role

Frank Grillo is portraying Rick Flag Sr. in Superman, the father of Rick Flag Jr who starred in 2016’s Suicide Squad and 2021’s soft reboot, The Suicide Squad. Rick Flag Sr. is first slated to star in the animated DCU show Creature Commandos, but set photos have revealed that he will then star alongside David Corenswet in Superman. These set photos reveal that Rick Flag Sr. is participating in the apparent arrest of Superman. This state of affairs seems to suggest that the character might take on an antagonistic role and places Grillo in a very familiar position.

Rick Flag Sr.’s apprehension of Superman parallels Brock Rumlow’s arrest of Captain America in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. In both cases, Grillo’s character is impressively outmatched by the hero they are attempting to arrest, but seemingly manages to get both in cuffs. Judging by what appears to be happening in the Superman set photos, however, both had wildly different outcomes as Superman appears to be complying whereas Cap made a swift example of his would-be captors. Nevertheless, both scenes share an even deeper meaning.

Why Frank Grillo’s Superman & Captain America Record Is So Special

While Captain America is not the MCU’s answer to Superman in terms of power levels, the two characters do share one stark similarity. Specifically, Captain America and Superman are the pinnacle of virtue in their respective franchises. Both characters have an inherent drive to do what’s right above all else, which can put them at odds with just slightly less scrupulous heroes like Iron Man and Batman.

Grillo’s apparent track record for playing a militaristic character tasked with apprehending a physically superior being is one thing, but the fact that both instances have him arresting two paragons of heroism is a particularly notable pattern. As yet, little is known about the role that Rick Flag Sr. will play in Superman beyond aiding in his arrest. Regardless, his participation in bringing such a virtuous character to heel makes it hard not to draw parallels between the DCU‘s Rick Flag Sr. and the decidedly villainous Brock Rumlow.