Frank Grillo stands out as one of the elite few actors who have had the privilege of collaborating with both Marvel and D.C. Studios, boasting a unique dual experience. The seasoned 60-year-old actor, who portrayed Rick Flag Sr. in the DC Universe and Brock Rumlow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, shed light on the striking contrasts between the two colossal franchises during an interview with People Magazine. "It's undeniably distinct," he began, unveiling his perspectives. "The organizational structures are worlds apart."
Elaborating further, he clarified, "[At DC], it's almost as if all the scripts are laid out before you, offering a firm grip on the narrative flow." Conversely, Marvel's approach is characterized by unpredictability. "There's absolutely nothing amiss with it; however, [Marvel] somewhat resembles navigating by the seat of your pants," he explained. While acknowledging Marvel's execution as "exceptionally well-done," he emphasized how this spontaneous method could intimidate actors uncertain about their characters' arcs. "Personally, it's somewhat unnerving to embark on such a journey blindly," Grillo confessed.
Despite these fundamental differences, intriguing similarities emerge when examining his dual roles. Both characters, soldiers at heart, fiercely defend their beliefs. Reflecting the intense nature of his portrayals, Grillo engaged in high-octane combat sequences with Chris Evans in Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier and with John Cena's Peacemaker in the second season of the DC show.
When prompted to choose between the two memorable fights, he quipped, "I had zero qualms about dishing out a good old-fashioned thrashing to both of them." Currently, Grillo is stealing the spotlight in Peacemaker's second season, which premieres weekly on Thursdays on HBO Max, continuing his impressive streak across both comic book giants' universes.
