Frank Grillo was less than enthusiastic about joining the dance sequence for the new opening credits of Peacemaker season 2, which premieres August 21 on HBO Max. The DC series’ creator James Gunn and cast playfully teased Grillo during a recent appearance at Entertainment Weekly’s Comic-Con video suite, poking fun at his dance moves ahead of their Hall H panel.
“He is a terrible dancer,” Gunn said amid laughter, “but he was a trooper.” Grillo admitted the routine was physically challenging, adding, “My knees were dying!” as he described the experience.
Grillo Returns as Rick Flag Sr., Adding Depth to the Cast
In season 2, Grillo reprises his role as Rick Flag Sr., the father of the late Rick Flag Jr. (played by Joel Kinnaman), who was killed by Peacemaker, John Cena’s character, in Gunn’s The Suicide Squad (2021). Although Grillo was initially hesitant about the unexpected dance scenes, which he was unaware of when signing on, he eventually embraced the challenge.
Grillo told Entertainment Weekly,
“I was really against it because I’m a serious actor. And I was reluctant. And little by little, I became the best dancer out of everyone.”
When the cast quickly disputed that claim, he added,
“I thought so! But I had such a great time watching Tim Meadows suffer.”
Cast Dynamics and Dance Abilities Revealed
Tim Meadows, who appears as the foul-mouthed A.R.G.U.S. agent Langston Fleury this season, admitted he struggled more than Grillo during the choreography. “I was horrible,” Meadows said.
“Everybody expected me to be good, and I don’t want to say why they expected me to be good, but I was horrible.”
Gunn praised other cast members, noting,
“Jen [Holland] is very good, and Freddie [Stroma] is very good,”
acknowledging their dance skills compared to the rest of the cast. Additionally, Gunn mentioned the show’s mascot, Eagly, making a rare appearance in the dance sequence.
“You get to see Eagly try to dance for the first time, so that’s really something. He is not the best at it, but he tries to really join in the dance sequence at the end. He’s got a little pose this time,”
Gunn said.
The Impact and Upcoming Premiere of Peacemaker Season 2
The opening credits dance highlights the blend of humor and seriousness that defines Peacemaker season 2, reflecting James Gunn’s signature style. With Grillo’s return as Rick Flag Sr. and the ensemble cast’s willingness to engage in lighthearted moments, the series maintains its balance of action and comedy. Fans can look forward to experiencing this fresh tone when the show returns Thursday, August 21, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO Max.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and has noted that prayer remains significant in his life. However, he has also expressed being somewhat opposed to religion.
Q. Is James Gunn no longer with Marvel?
A. After being removed from the Guardians of the Galaxy series in 2018, the director believed his career had ended. Fortunately, in 2022, he and Peter Safran were chosen to lead DC Studios. This opportunity allowed him to work on his next superhero film. Toby Emmerich from Warner Bros. was involved.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. In Gunn’s 2025 version of Superman, the character Krypto the Superdog, created with CGI animation, was inspired by Ozu. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and has shared that prayer is still significant to him, although he describes himself as “in some ways, anti-religion.”
Q. Is James Gunn still with Marvel?
A. James Gunn lost his position at Marvel because old tweets with offensive content came back to attention.
