The DC Universe is finally changing, and it’s changing dramatically—or rather, with a growl and a few zombie-like grunts. Creature Commandos is James Gunn’s new animated outing and the first project under his vision for the DC Universe (DCU).
With Gunn not only serving as executive producer but also penning all seven episodes, the series feels like a personal project for the co-CEO of DC Studios. It’s also introducing characters that might not be as familiar to most viewers. Let’s take a closer look at the series and the voice cast bringing these unique characters to life.
The main cast of Creature Commandos
This show follows Task Force M—“M” for the monster—assembled by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) after the original Task Force X was sidelined. Waller tasks Rick Flag Sr. with leading a motley crew of misfits, including Eric Frankenstein, the Bride, Nina Mazursky, Dr. Phosphorus, G.I. Robot, and the ever-creepy Weasel. They’re joined by Maria Bakalova’s Princess Ilana, for a touch of a political wrinkle.
The Creature Commandos team serves a nice platter of undead soldiers, reanimated monsters, and misunderstood creatures. The actors were chosen not just for their vocal abilities but also for their potential live-action roles. James Gunn explained in an interview, “The idea was always to have those characters played by those actors [in live-action].”
You might know Frank Grillo from his Marvel days as Crossbones, but here, he’s Rick Flag Sr., the tough-as-nails leader of Task Force M. This grizzled veteran is the father of Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman’s character from The Suicide Squad), and he’s carrying some heavy baggage. Flag Sr. will also appear in Gunn’s upcoming Superman film and Peacemaker Season 2.
After charming audiences as Cosmo the Space Dog in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Maria Bakalova steps into the DCU as Princess Ilana, a royal from the fictional nation of Pokolistan. David Harbour’s Frankenstein, meanwhile, is a take on Mary Shelley’s monster. He’s a brawn and a stalker with a problematic moral compass. “He’s kind of irredeemable,” said showrunner Dean Lorey about the character. Harbour, already a fan favorite from Stranger Things and the MCU, said about the role,
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.
The Bride, Sean Gunn with a double whammy, and Tudyk’s chameleon
Recognized for her performances in Game of Thrones and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Indira Varma voices The Bride—a deadly and cunning creation of Victor Frankenstein. She serves as the de facto leader of the group.
Sean Gunn, a familiar face (and voice) in James Gunn’s projects, takes on dual roles. As G.I. Robot, he’s a mechanical soldier built to fight Nazis, and as Weasel, he reprises his vile, child-murdering character from The Suicide Squad. While Weasel’s past makes him controversial, his misunderstood nature takes center stage in the new show.
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Alan Tudyk, a chameleon of the voice-acting world, brings both the radioactive Dr. Phosphorus and Batman’s Clayface to life. The characters are tragic and terrifying, with Dr. P particularly having the ability to melt anything he touches. Tudyk’s history with animated and live-action roles makes him perfect for this anti-hero. Talking about the role, he said,
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.
As Dr. Nina Mazursky, Zoe Chao plays the most grounded and morally centered member of Task Force M. Her aquatic nature and water-filled helmet, nevertheless, force comparisons to The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
The entire list of the Creatures Commandos cast:
Steve Agee as John Economos.
Maria Bakalova as Princess llana Rostovic.
Anya Chalotra as Circe.
Zoe Chao as Nina Mazursky.
Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.
Sean Gunn as Gl Robot and Weasel.
David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein.
Alan Tudyk as Doctor Phosphorus.
Choosing animation and why this matters for the DCU
When asked why Creature Commandos was chosen as the DCU’s animated debut, Gunn laughed, “I don’t remember. I think I just wanted to do something animated and with these characters.”
But animation wasn’t just another random creative whim for Gunn. It allowed for an exploration of violence and sex without pushing into exploitative territory. “Because it is animated, it doesn’t seem as sexual or as gory as you would if it was live-action,” Gunn noted.
For Dean Lorey, the showrunner, staying true to Gunn’s scripts was what was most important to him. “We tried to be faithful without going excessive. It wasn’t about being shocking, just telling the story honestly,” he said.
The team also leaned into the freedom animation offers, adding elements like Nazis literally putting their guts back in. Gunn joked, “Do you think I’m going to say that’s too much?!”
Creature Commandos is a key piece of the bigger picture James Gunn is trying to build for DC. If the cast and concept and the first few episodes are anything to go by, this could be one of the most interesting projects DC has tackled in years.
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Creature Commandos debuted on December 5, 2024, and it’s been received well (at least by DC standards). While doing so, however, the show has made clear that it’s a big step in redefining what the DC Universe can be.
Check out Creature Commandos on Max.
