Joel Kinnaman on Rick Flag Jr.'s Future in New DCU

Joel Kinnaman has shared insights regarding his potential return as Rick Flag Jr. within the evolving DC Universe, under the new leadership of James Gunn. Kinnaman's character was notably killed by John Cena's Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad, a death that remains canonical within the DCU, even after events in Peacemaker Season 2. This established a powerful motivation for Rick Flag Sr.'s vendetta against Peacemaker.

During a recent discussion, Kinnaman expressed that he does not anticipate reprising his role as Rick Flag Jr. in the current DCU. While his appearances in Peacemaker were a welcome link to past events, his future in the franchise appears uncertain. The season finale saw Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. achieve his revenge, imprisoning Chris Smith (Peacemaker) in the pocket universe known as Salvation, which will function as a metahuman detention facility.

Despite Kinnaman's comments, the enduring presence of his character suggests that further involvement, perhaps through flashbacks, could still occur if a third season of Peacemaker is greenlit. Kinnaman's tenure as Rick Flag Jr. spanned multiple DC reboots, with his death serving as a significant plot point that initially positioned Peacemaker as a villain. Even as Peacemaker moves towards redemption, Rick Flag Sr. continues to grapple with the grief of his son's murder.