Steve Agee opens up about taking part in James Gunn’s DC Universe by reprising the role of John Economos in Creature Commandos. A new era is on its way for the DC brand, with Gunn’s DC Universe officially starting this year and multiple projects currently in the works. While David Corenswet’s Superman film will debut next summer, the DC reboot’s first offering is Max’s new animated series, Creature Commandos.
The Creature Commandos story centers on one of DC’s more obscure teams that is now getting the Gunn treatment with the DC Studios co-CEO bringing the characters into the DC Universe. Since Amanda Waller no longer being able to send out human prisoners to carry out missions for the U.S. government, Viola Davis’ character finds a new loophole by putting together a unit of monsters led by Rick Flag Sr. Creature Commandos also serves as the DC Universe’s first animated outing, giving fans a taste of Gunn’s new superhero continuity.
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ScreenRant recently interviewed Agee about coming back to the world of DC and bringing John Economos into animation as part of the Creature Commandos cast. Agee shared his journey from DCEU live-action to DCU animation, explained how the Creature Commandos stand out from a group like the Suicide Squad, and revealed how John connects with the show’s monsters. Agee also teased Peacemaker season 2, where fans will see him next, and hinted at what is going on with another spinoff he is set to appear in for DC Studios.
Steve Agee Previews John Economos’ Return To The DC Universe In Creature Commandos Season 1
ScreenRant: I’ve watched the whole season, and something that I noticed is that not a lot phases John. I’m guessing that he’s had a long history at this point with aliens, monsters, and meta-humans. Do you personally know how far that history goes, or is that something you find out script by script? What do those conversations look like with you and James?
Steve Agee: I find out little by little. Before James wrote this character into The Suicide Squad and then Peacemaker, all that existed of John Economos was [that] he was the warden of Belle Reve prison. He wasn’t a tech guy, and really, all we knew about him from his few appearances was that he had a lot of ex-wives! [laughs] So I think that says a lot about the guy, maybe a little hard to live with, but there’s not a ton in the comic books to draw on. So James is [really] kind of building the character from scratch.
When you found out that you were going to continue and that the first thing you would get to do was to explore John for animation. How excited was that for you as an actor to discover how is that gonna work? What characters are they gonna be like?
Steve Agee: I was super excited! I love animation, I’ve done a bunch of voiceover stuff for animated shows, but just here and there. And I was really excited that he was taking on animation, I never saw that one coming. James and I have been friends for a long time, and he kind of writes Economos in my voice as well. So there’s not a lot of surprises – there’s a lot of surprises story wise, but as a character, I think I pretty much have them figured out as the snarky, kind of cowardly guy who wishes that he could physically fight and shoot [laughs] but he’s too scared to. It’s a lot like me in real life, and it’s been carrying on through the movie, and now the series, and now the animated show.
Steve Agee On How Creature Commandos Standout From Suicide Squad
“As you watch the series, you find out that they’re incredibly complicated characters with deep back stories.”
I went back and re-watched some of the other stuff that you’ve been in with DC, just to compare. It seems John has more sympathy and understanding for the Creature Commandos, as opposed to anyone in Task Force X. What do you think he sees in them that makes them relatable?
Steve Agee: It’s funny, because when you hear the premise of the show: these are basically monsters. Obviously Frankenstein and the Bride, these are clearly straight up monsters. In the Creature Commandos, – obviously, because it’s creatures, they’re not human – you would expect this to be an obvious, ‘Oh these are horrible creatures that don’t really matter if they live or die!’ That’s why she’s [Amanda Waller] sending them on these missions.
But as you watch the series, you find out that they’re incredibly complicated characters with deep back stories. There’s not a hard line between good and bad with any of these creatures. There’s a very wide, blurry line of good and bad and that’s part of the appeal of the show, is the depth of all these characters. That’s always been James strong suit, with movies and TV, is the characters.
Do you feel like, as we go into the DC Universe, that this is the franchise’s new response to Suicide Squad? The Creature Commandos are not typical criminals, they’re more misunderstood, good people. Is that how you feel?
Steve Agee: Absolutely. That was what James was doing with The Suicide Squad as well. These people are complicated people, some of them are considered bad, horrible people, talking about the Suicide Squad. But it came through events that were kind of beyond their control, and not all of them are really as evil as you would think. And that’s proving the same with the Creature Commandos.
Does anything from what John has gone through in Creature Commandos season 1 carry over into the next couple of things that we’re going to see you in?
Steve Agee: I don’t know what’s going on beyond Creature Commandos in season 2 of Peacemaker. I’m in Savannah, Georgia right now shooting season 2. We’re almost done, I should be done on Monday, and that’s the end of the season. Beyond that, I don’t know what’s in store for Economos. There’s a lot I wish I could tell you, [laughs] but you’ll have to tune into the shows!
Steve Agee On John Economos’ Journey In Waller & Peacemaker Season 2
“It’s definitely a more epic storyline…”
I know that James did confirm that you will be back for the Waller TV show. Do you have any update on when you might start doing that?
Steve Agee: I think they’re still doing scripts, so there’s no set time yet, and James won’t start something until he’s absolutely happy with the scripts and they’re they’re ready to go. So once they’re ready, I’m sure he’ll announce a start time – as an actor who loves to work, it can’t happen soon enough, though, for me! [laughs]
That’s exciting you guys are almost done with season 2. How’s the atmosphere this year? I saw that first teaser, and it looks like you guys are getting crazy more than ever, so what can you talk about that?
Steve Agee: Not a lot, I can tell – It’s definitely a more epic storyline. More characters are involved this time and it’s a massive story in a massive world. I think anyone who likes season 1 is going to love season 2.
John Economos Gets The Animated Treatment Through Creature Commandos
And finally, before I let you go, what was your reaction when you got to see yourself in animation for the first time? You said you’ve done voiceover before, but was this the first time that you-you are being completely designed for animation?
Steve Agee: Yes it was! James first showed me just a character’s design before I saw any actual movement and I was so excited, because I had never seen, Steve, my physical body animated, and he was a lot more impressive than the guy I see in the mirror every morning. [laughs] So, I love him, I’m super excited. I’m really happy to have myself be animated.
More About Creature Commandos Season 1
CREATURE COMMANDOS tracks a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for missions deemed too dangerous for humans. When all else fails… they’re your last, worst option. CREATURE COMMANDOS is written and executive produced by James Gunn. Based on DC characters and produced by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation; additional executive producers include Peter Safran, Dean Lorey, and Sam Register; Rick Morales serves as a supervising producer.
Check out our other Creature Commandos season 1 interviews here:
Creature Commandos
season 1 premieres on Thursday, December 5, with the first two episodes debuting before shifting to weekly releases only on Max.
Source: Screen Rant Plus
This animated series follows a covert team of monstrous inmates recruited for perilous missions deemed unsuitable for humans. United by secrecy and necessity, the Creature Commandos tackle extraordinary threats, serving as the ultimate option when traditional forces fall short.
- Cast
- Indira Varma , Frank Grillo , Zoe Chao , David Harbour , Sean Gunn , Alan Tudyk , Anya Chalotra , Maria Bakalova , Viola Davis , Steve Agee , Benjamin Byron Davis
- Release Date
- December 5, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Franchise(s)
- DC