Will Maria Bakalova and Frank Grillo’s super steamy scene together in Max’s Creature Commandos be the buzz of the internet? Bring it on. The new Max animated series brings these two popular stars together in James Gunn’s offical DCU launch, playing Princess Ilana Rostovic and Rick Flag Sr., respectively. Bakalova, who previously worked with Gunn and Sean Gunn in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, was the first to be cast in the new series.
“It’s absolutely exceptional,” Bakalova told MovieWeb about the series during an interview about her gritty role in the slick action thriller Dirty Angels. “It’s funny, it’s hot, and it’s sexy to be honest.” Bakalova went on to give us the backstory of how she came on board the project, saying:

“James has proven that he can create universes very well. He has his own signature that is always so rich in character, so rich in atmosphere, so rich in soundtrack even. And this story… I was humbled and honored to be a part of. I got this message quickly after we finished Guardians of the Galaxy, and I was really secretly upset that I’m meeting all of these great people when it was the last installment of the franchise, and then I received a message from James that he’s building a story and then there is this character, a femme fatale princess…”

Is Creature Commandos the Best Way into the New DCU?

Maria Bakalova has been busy. We’ve seen her in various genre films—from Bodies Bodies Bodies to The Apprentice, which just landed Sebastian Stan a Golden Globes nom. Bakalova voiced Cosmo the Spacedog in the MCU, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In Dirty Angels, directed by James Bond director Martin Campell, the actress plays a quirky bomb expert opposite Eva Green in her breakout action film.
Meanwhile, Creature Commandos tracks a new team of misfits led by Rick Flag Sr., who’s been sent to the country of Pokolistan to protect Princess Ilana Rostovic. The team consists of monsters: Weasel (Sean Gunn), The Bride (Indira Varma), and Dr. Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk). The gang need to protect the princess from an evil sorcerer. Expect some surprises along the way in this endeavor and a kind of must-see vibe as this official takes Gunn—and us—into new territory, moving forward with our favorite DC Comics characters. Ready for Superman in 2025?
“I couldn’t wait to read more about it,” Bakalova added about wanting to see the Creature Commandos script. “We did it [a meeting] over zoom, and it was so incredible. [James is] one of the greatest people that I got the chance to meet and work with because he creates this feeling of trust, of boldness to do the things, to experiment, to provoke your partner to go further than you expect it to be.”
James Gunn Does it for the Fans and the Audience

Max

“You do it for the audiences. James does this with the thought about his fans, his audiences, and fans of the original comics, which is something very important. He brings authenticity to it, but it’s always with respect towards the fans of the comic books.”

Having tuned into the first few episodes of Creature Commandos, we know now that Princess Ilana Rostovic is the acting monarch of Pokolistan. She’s targeted by a sorceress and that’s where Rick Flag Sr. and his gang come in. Look for deeper character development as we head toward the seventh and final episode of the season, to which Bakalova noted:

“We bring in this completely new character. [James] is building this new universe in the DC world, and his vision is incredible. It’s animation for adult people. I found myself watching the episodes on long breaths because I mean, you’ll see it. It’s absolutely exceptional.”

Creature Commandos is an animated television series that follows a team of supernatural beings, including a werewolf, vampire, and gorgon, assembled by the government for high-risk missions. This unique group navigates various challenges as they leverage their distinct abilities to combat threats. The show offers a blend of action, horror, and dark humor, set in a universe where classic monsters are reimagined as heroes.

Release Date

December 5, 2024

Cast

Indira Varma
, Frank Grillo
, Zoe Chao
, David Harbour
, Sean Gunn
, Alan Tudyk
, Anya Chalotra
, Maria Bakalova
, Viola Davis
, Steve Agee
, Benjamin Byron Davis