“Two of the Finest Men” - Frank Grillo Sends Heartfelt Message to James Gunn and Peter Safran Amid DC Exit

Published 11/11/2026, 8:43 PM EST
Caption: Frank GrilloCredits: Imago

Frank Grillo sent a heartfelt message to James Gunn and Peter Safran after the pair left their posts at DC Studios. The franchise had a loud week, with fans and industry insiders sharing strong opinions about the new leadership team and what comes next. Grillo, who plays Rick Flag Sr. across the DC Universe, chose to respond to all that noise with his own long video message.

While the internet handed out hot takes like free samples, Grillo showed up with a thank-you note and did not bother with subtlety.

Frank Grillo gave James Gunn and Peter Safran a public send-off from DC Studios

Frank Grillo showered James Gunn and Peter Safran with praise after they left DC Studios. Skydance Motion Picture Group announced on Monday that they stepped down as co-chiefs. Marvel veteran Jeremy Latcham took over. The duo had overseen the DC Universe reboot since taking charge in 2022.

“I just wanted to publicly thank two of the finest men,” Grillo said.

He went on to call them “two of the most loyal guys” and said working with them had been an honor.

James Gunn at the premiere of the feature film The Suicide Squad at Landmark Westwood Theatres Los Angeles, 02 08 2021. Foto:xD.xBedrosianx xFuturexImage

Grillo posted the video on Instagram on Wednesday, after the dust settled and online opinions started piling up. He said that liking their films was beside the point, since no two people he knew were better humans. He also called working with them on Creature Commandos, Peacemaker, Superman and Man of Tomorrow a gift. He even promised airport pickup duty for Safran, while Gunn’s ride was left politely uncertain.

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While Grillo handed out compliments, Gunn had once handed him a joke about whether he could keep a secret.

James Gunn teased Frank Grillo over secrets after a Peacemaker clip

Earlier this year, James Gunn playfully called out Frank Grillo over his DCU secret-keeping skills. Gunn shared a clip about John Cena and the future of Peacemaker, praised Cena as great at keeping secrets, and hinted that Grillo did not share that talent. Grillo answered with his own joke, saying he could keep a secret if somebody told him one. The jab fit a franchise known for guarding its plans.

Hollywood CA: Jul 7: James Gunn attends the Los Angeles premiere of Superman at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on July 7, 2025 Copyright: xJeffreyxMayerx xMediaPunchx

The secrets theme returned in October, when Grillo reshared a fan-made Man of Tomorrow poster featuring Adria Arjona as Wonder Woman. Fans took it as confirmation, but Gunn said Grillo liked seeing himself in the post and did not know Arjona’s role. Gunn later posted private texts with Grillo about it, calling the mix-up beneficial to them. Grillo may be shaky with DCU secrets, but his admiration for Gunn and Peter Safran was never one of them.

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What are your thoughts on Frank Grillo praising James Gunn and Peter Safran? Let us know in the comments.

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Shraddha Priyadarshi

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Shraddha is a content chameleon with 3 years of experience, expertly juggling entertainment and non-entertainment writing, from scriptwriting to reporting. Having a portfolio of over 2,000 articles, she has covered everything from Hollywood’s glitzy drama to the latest pop culture trends. With a knack for telling stories that keep readers hooked, Shraddha thrives on dissecting celebrity scandals and cultural moments.

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