‘Creature Commandos’: 6 Things You Need To Know About James Gunn’s DCU Monster Mash (2024)

Earlier this week, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunnrevealed the company’s master plan for the next chapter of the DC Cinematic Universe. The future of DC films will see their live-action films crossover with their television shows, animation, and video games. While we know that Superman and Batman will lead the charge on the big screen, with The Amazons and Lanterns dominating the small screen, we now set our sights on animation.

Gunn revealed that our first animated series from the new DC Universe would be Creature Commandos. With this first chapter of the DCU being labeled Gods and Monsters, it makes total sense that we explore the creatures of the world in this upcoming series. We know that Creature Commandos is pretty obscure compared to the other projects, but fear not. We are here to guide you through it all.

6 Who Are The Creature Commandos?

The Creature Commandos made their first appearance in Weird War Tales #93 in 1980. Created by J.M. DeMatteis and Pat Broderick, The Creature Commandos is a special military unit composed of supernatural beings. Project M (the unit that controls the Commandos) was started in 1941 and used the monsters as a covert team in World War II. Gunn and Safran have revealed their lineup for the upcoming animated series.

Rick Flag Sr.

Richard Flag Sr. is an incredible World War II fighter pilot who leads the Suicide Squadron, a precursor to the Suicide Squad we know today. He is tasked by S.H.A.D.E. (Super-Human Advanced Defense Executive) with leading a new team during the war, one far more capable than the former convicts he had to keep in line previously. Flag has a history with the Justice Society of America and is the father of Rick Flag, who we see in both Suicide Squad films played by Joel Kinnaman.

Nina Mazursky

Nina is a scientist for S.H.A.D.E. and specializes in biology. She has experimented with creating life and even attempted to make living beings for the Creature Commandos. Mazursky later figures out how to develop superpowers and tests it on herself. She is now an amphibian woman who joins the Commandos' ranks.

Dr. Phosphorus

Doctor Phosphorus is typically depicted as a Batman villain in DC Comics. After being exposed to radiation, Alex Sartorius’ physiology was changed entirely. His body now burns with eternal flames, and he vows revenge on those who caused this tragedy.

Frankenstein’s Monster

Dr. Frankenstein created a man who would become the classic monster we know today. Known simply as Frankenstein (or Frank), the creature was eventually recruited for the S.H.A.D.E. project, Creature Commandos.

G.I. Robot

G.I. Robots were machines designed to aid the U.S. Military in World War II. The first of these robots was known as J.A.K.E. (Jungle Automatic Killer - Experimental) and was destroyed in battle. The second robot, J.A.K.E. II, was assigned to the Creature Commandos, where he was a core member.

Weasel

This is the first significant change to The Creature Commandos. Weasel is not a part of this team's roster. Instead, the beast is often on the Suicide Squad. The character is typically seen as a Firestorm villain, but his DCEU origin is unknown. Sean Gunn portrayed him in The Suicide Squad.

The Bride

The Bride of Frankenstein will be the main character in Creature Commandos, and her comic origins are very different from what we’ve seen before. Usually referred to as Bride, Lady Frankenstein was also a member of S.H.A.D.E., where she and Frank fell in love. The two have a child who was unstable, leading to Frank having to kill their son after he violently attacks them. This causes a rift between Bride and Frank.

5 Who Will Be Playing The Creature Commandos?

Creature Commandos features an extremely talented cast. Gunn has gone on record saying that most of the animated voice actors would also double as their live-action counterparts in potential appearances down the line. So, we weren't shocked when we discovered that the series would star Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) as Rick Flag Sr., Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) as Princess Ilana Rostovic, Indira Varma (Obi-Wan Kenobi) as The Bride, Zoë Chao (The Afterparty) as Nina Mazursky, Alan Tudyk (Harley Quinn) as Dr. Phosphorus, David Harbour (Stranger Things) as Eric Frankenstein, Anya Chalotra (The Witcher) as Circe, Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3) as G.I. Robot and Steve Agee (The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker) returning as John Economos.

Bakalova’s character, Princess Iilana Rostovic, is an original character created for the series. It’s also worth noting that Sean Gunn is returning to voice Weasel, a character he portrayed in The Suicide Squad film. With the return of both Weasel and John Economos, we can probably expect guest appearances from Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) and other Suicide Squad supporting characters.

We spoke with David Harbour about playing Frankenstein. He said:

We recorded a bunch of stuff. I mean, not only do I get to play in the DC Universe, I get to play in the James Gunn DC Universe, which is a whole new exciting thing. I didn't know what it was when it was sent to me; I met with James, and he sort of laid out a lot of stuff. It's really exciting. He considers it some of the best stuff he's ever written. It's hilarious, and the character is great. I think it's been announced that it's Frankenstein, and it's a very colorful, terrific character. So, yeah, we've started to shoot stuff. I'm not one to really break, but during this, it is wildly funny stuff.

Alan Tudyk talked about his first impressions of the series, saying:

"When I read it [the script], it was the best thing I had read in so long , and it was moving. And that is what James Gunn does so well. I can't wait for people to see it. I've now seen some of it and it looks really great.

4 Does 'Creature Commandos' Have a Trailer?

The first full trailer for Creature Commandos was released on October 19, 2024, at New York Comic-Con. We get a lot more context on this team, the show's overall tone, and it sets the stage for what seems to be a great introduction to the future of the DC universe.

3 What Role Will 'Creature Commandos' Play in The DC Universe?

Gunn and Safran have said that the Creature Commandos will be a black ops team formed by Amanda Waller (again played by Viola Davis). This version of the team will likely take place during the present day instead of World War II. We know that Waller will be getting a series featuring the Peacemaker cast, and she previously formed Task Force X in the first two Suicide Squad films.

The Creature Commandos can be used as an expansion of Waller’s Task Force X project. With this first chapter being titled Gods and Monsters, it’s safe to assume that these characters will play a significant role going forward. Peter Safran was amazed by the scripts he’s read so far, saying: “[I was] staggered at the caliber of the scripts. We'll see how everything else comes, but the screenplays are amazing.”

Gunn revealed details on the series, saying:

"The new series picks up directly after the Peacemaker season one finale, which leaves Waller with her hands tied operationally, meaning that she's no longer able to get away with putting human lives on the line to carry out her clandestine, morally questionable missions. Instead, she recruits a ragtag band of misfits, not unlike the Suicide Squad or Peacemaker."

2 Does 'Creature Commandos' Have a Release Date?

The DCU officially launches with the premiere of Creature Commandos. You will be able to watch the series this fall, with the first episode premiering on December 5, 2024.

1 Who is Behind 'Creature Commandos'?

James Gunn serves as writer and producer on the upcoming DCU series. Creature Commandos will also be scored by talented composersKevin Kiner (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Clint Mansell (Love Lies Bleeding). When describing his approach to the series, Gunn said to EW:

“I'm used to dealing with oddballs and irregular types and weirdos. That's what Guardians is, and Creature Commandos is kind of like Guardians without the sentimentality. The Guardians are all really good characters at their heart, and that just isn't necessarily the case with the creatures.”

Creature Commandos will premiere on Max on December 5, 2024.

Creature Commandos

Animation

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

Action

Adventure

In "Creature Commandos," Amanda Waller assembles a covert team of monstrous operatives, including a werewolf, vampire, and gorgon, to undertake high-risk missions deemed too perilous for human agents.

Release Date

December 5, 2024

Cast

Indira Varma , Frank Grillo , Zoe Chao , David Harbour , Sean Gunn , Alan Tudyk , Anya Chalotra , Maria Bakalova , Viola Davis , Steve Agee , Benjamin Byron Davis

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Watch on Max