Creature Commands star David Harbor explores being part of James Gunn's DC Universe as Eric Frankenstein and teases what could be next for his live-action character. As 2024 prepares to close, the arrival of the new DC Universe franchise came in the form of animation Creature Commands TV program. Creature Commands Season 1 serves as an appetizer for DC Universe Chapter 1: “God and Monsters,” with more films and series coming in 2025 and beyond.
THE Creature Commands The story explores one of the obscure teams in the DC canon, as Amanda Waller assembles Task Force M like monsters once she can no longer utilize the Suicide Squad for their missions. Led by Rick Flag Sr., the Creature Commandos team focuses on a new set of characters who may look like monsters on the outside, but are just as human as the audience on the inside. With the setup of the new DC Universe, anyone who was cast in a major role in Creature Commands will also play their live-action counterparts in future films and TV shows.
TelaRant recently spoke with Harbor about joining Gunn's DC Universe, starting with animation as part of the Creature Commands cast. Harbor talked about how Gunn and Peter Safran approached him about joining the new DC franchise, the new experiences that came with taking on a role as Eric Frankenstein, and the complex dynamic between him and The Bride. Harbor also hinted at what might happen to his Frankenstein in the live-action side of the DC Universe and how his final turn in Stranger Things season 5 is coming.
David Harbor opens his entry into James Gunn's DC universe with Creature Commandos
ScreenRant: I saw the entire season of Creature Commandsand it's such a fun show. You've been part of a lot of big franchises, including the comic book space, so what drew you to the DCU and the way James Gunn was presenting it to you?
David Harbor: The scripts themselves were really good, and also sitting down with James and seeing his passion and enthusiasm and the way his mind works, I thought, 'I just want to work with this guy.' He and Peter met me, I was confused by the script. I didn't really see that initially, when I just read the pilot, and I was like, 'Do they want to do a reunion with me?' And they immediately said, 'Yeah, yeah, come meet us,' and sit back and listen to the way they talked about crafting what they're doing.
James just loves these characters, and he thinks it's one of the best things he's ever written, so I really went back and dove into it, and started seeing more. But he has a sophisticated way of bringing everything together in the action, in the animation, where it's much better than I imagined. But I just wanted to work with that guy. I just think he's so smart and a master of his craft.
David Harbor on Eric Frankenstein's friendship with Rick Flag Sr. in Season 1 of Creature Commandos
“I think he sees in Grillo’s character a very strong, capable and confident man who attracts women.”
One of the dynamics I didn't expect to see was that Eric actually had a crush on Rick Flag Sr., which, again, I thought was really fun to see on screen. What is it about Rick that draws Eric, of all the characters, to him that he's met so far in the series?
David Harbor: Frankenstein wants to be a man. He wants to be a lover. He knows it's a cobbled together piece of something. He has tremendous and strange passions. And I think he sees in Grillo's character a very strong, capable, confident and attractive man to women. He wants to understand and possess it, have it. So I think there's this push of resenting him and also wanting him to be a mentor.
It's basically a slightly dark and twisted version of Pinocchio wanting to be a real boy, essentially.
David Harbor: Yes, exactly. That's a good comparison.
David Harbor on Eric Frankenstein's Bride and Dynamic In Creature Commandos
Even though it's already past this season, does he reach a point where he starts to see that what he's doing to the Bride is wrong? Or is he so blinded by love that he thinks this is natural, that this is how people are when they show affection to each other?
David Harbor: Yes, I think he can't see anything beyond his own desire. And I also think it obscures the fact that he thinks she will be happier with him too. It's that thing where, 'She still doesn't understand how much, how happy they can be.' I think it's a classic Romeo and Juliet idea that is terribly monstrous and wrong. [Laughs] I think he reads the idea of romantic comedy through the lens of insane, violent passion!
David Harbor has high hopes for Creature Commandos season 2
“We get to see all kinds of colors, so it's exciting to see where it would go in season two.”
If Creature Commands season two would happen, which I hope The Powers That Be makes happen, do you hope to see him more involved with the other Commandos this time? We get a little taste throughout the season, but I'm like, 'How would he do with this or that character?' Is this something you personally look forward to as well?
David Harbor: Yes, his role in the story for the first season is very interesting, because he's not part of the team, he's his own thing. In terms of Season 2, like all the interesting new pairings you could have with these characters. I love Doctor Phosphorus, GI Robot and Nina. They're all so unique in their own way, and it would be fun to interact with them because I think he would have specific reactions to each of them.
It's such a specific and personal thing. We get to see a lot of his relationship with Frank, and it's very colorful because he's a big monster. But then, like you said, there's all this emotional coloring in Frank. So what would it be like if he was dating Nina or Doctor Phosphorus? You get into crazy intellectual arguments with Doctor Phosphorus about all sorts of things. Or he could have a certain comforting affinity with Nina. We got to see all kinds of colors, so it's exciting to see where this would go in season two.
Frankenstein Could Eventually Enter James Gunn's DCU Through Live-Action Beyond Creature Commands
I don't know if you and James have had these conversations, but at some point we'll have to see you outside of the animation world with Frankenstein. Do you already have an idea of how you would play him? This would be a very different character for you to play other live action roles. How far have you thought about this?
David Harbor: There's nothing firm, or there's no script or anything, so you take that out. The fun thing about this back and forth process is that a lot of times I have a lot of ownership, or I want a lot of ownership of my characters, but it's been fun because we get into the booth, we act get the hell out of it, and then these animators come in and show all these new things where you're like, 'Oh, he's on his back right now, and he pulls you down, he does this, jumps back when he says this line,' and you're like, 'Oh, I wouldn't have done that, but all good.'
It's almost like you have another collaborator with you in the character. So it's fun to watch the show and think about it in a different way. I have a lot of my own ideas, but the dynamics of the animation itself also gave me a lot of ideas. So yeah, it would be super fun. We'll see what James comes up with and if there's room for him in the future. But I think that within this universe, seeing that monster running will be fun.
We know that he has already announced a series of projects. Is there any, like, as a fan, that you are, 'I would really like to appear in this or that one', because there are so many things to choose from!
David Harbor: Maybe I didn't see the board. I've been very busy. I'm finishing up a lot of things here right now. But I saw that Lantern thing, it looks really interesting. That sounds really interesting, but I don't think he belongs there. So it's kind of a combination of what I think [where] it belongs and what I would like. I'd have to check it out – I know he's not in Superman, so don't worry! [laughs]
I would have killed to see you come in Superman.
David Porto: [Laughs] He's just on the streets, just [going] 'Wow, who is this?!'
David Harbor reflects on Stranger Things season 5
“It resonates because we’ve worked together for 10 years, all of us, and we know each other really well.”
As you enter a world of Gods and Monsters, I know you are ending another. Our readers would kill me if I didn't ask – how are things going in the final season of Stranger Things?
David Harbor: It's good, it was a very long effort. We've been filming for a long time and it's big, really big. And we're coming to the end, so we're getting into a lot of these substantial final things, which tie a lot of these relationships together. It really makes a very rich and satisfying meal, which I won't say if it's happy or sad, [or] which is in the end, but it will definitely be satisfying. Some of the things I filmed, even last week, were some of the most moving things in the show, and there were a lot of moving things in this show.
I had a scene the other day where I thought, 'Wow, this really resonates on such a deep level.' It resonates because we've worked together for 10 years, all of us, and we know each other really well. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses, what we love about each other, what we can't stand about each other, and those things are beautiful. We're in a place where we feel comfortable enough to allow each other that humanity, and that's special. It's very special.
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 are your last, worst option. CREATURE COMMANDS was written and produced by James Gunn. Based on DC characters and produced by DC Studios and Warner Bros. additional executive producers include Peter Safran, Dean Lorey and Sam Register; Rick Morales serves as supervising producer.
Check out our others Creature Commands season 1 interviews here:
Source: Rant Plus Screen
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