AceShowbiz - Joel Kinnaman has confirmed that his role as Rick Flag Jr. in the DC Universe will end with the second season of Peacemaker. The actor first portrayed Rick Flag Jr. in David Ayer’s 2016 film Suicide Squad, and later reprised the character in flashbacks on the HBO Max series Peacemaker, following the character’s death in James Gunn’s 2021 soft reboot The Suicide Squad.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley, Kinnaman addressed whether audiences would see Rick Flag Jr. again in the DC Universe. His response was brief but clear: “I would say so,” he said when asked if Peacemaker season 2 was the last time he’d play the character. He described this iteration of Flag as an “alternate universe, mealy-mouthed Rick,” a version that he and Gunn referred to with some humor.

Kinnaman revealed his surprise at being able to keep his involvement in Peacemaker under wraps, especially given Warner Bros.' strict rules about spoilers during the production of The Suicide Squad. “I’m very bad at keeping secrets,” he admitted, noting that his reduced social media presence has made it easier to avoid accidental revelations.

After filming The Suicide Squad, Kinnaman maintained contact with director James Gunn. Gunn reached out to offer him a “little fun thing” to do, which turned out to be his role in Peacemaker. “We’re friends, so we talk every now and then. He just called me and asked if I wanted to come in, and he was like, ‘This is this little fun thing I’d love for you to do.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll come play with you anytime,’” explained Kinnaman.

Gunn had always planned for Flag to appear during the second season of Peacemaker, but Kinnaman said he was unaware of those intentions beforehand. He praised Gunn as a “mad genius” for thinking so far ahead creatively. Gunn also valued Kinnaman’s comedic talents, which influenced his decision to reintroduce Flag in a way that played to the actor’s strengths.

Reflecting on his early days in the franchise, Kinnaman described his experience on the 2016 Suicide Squad film as “very unprofessional.” He admitted that the cast was “partying all the time” during production, contrasting sharply with the “much more professional” atmosphere on set for Gunn’s 2021 film. “It was a mess,” he said candidly about the 2016 shoot, adding, “I feel like we were drunk and high all the time.”

With Peacemaker season 2 marking the end of his journey as Rick Flag Jr., Kinnaman has shifted his focus to new projects. He is currently involved in the film Icefall, as well as the television series Imperfect Women and Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, which have recently premiered on Apple TV and Netflix, respectively.

In addition to his DC Universe work, Kinnaman stars in the critically acclaimed drama For All Mankind, which explores an alternate history of the space race. The show, streaming on Apple TV, is currently in its fifth season, with the finale scheduled for May 29. His performance in the series earned him a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor on Television (Streaming).

While James Gunn will not be involved in a third season of Peacemaker, he continues to expand the DC Universe. His upcoming projects include new adaptations of Supergirl, Clayface, Man of Tomorrow, and Lanterns, following his recent work on the Superman film reboot and animated series like Creature Commandos and Peacemaker.

With Kinnaman stepping away from Rick Flag Jr., fans of the DC Extended Universe can anticipate fresh stories and new characters as the franchise evolves beyond the actor’s tenure. For now, Peacemaker season 2 stands as the final chapter for his portrayal of the complex and conflicted character.