David Harbour Wants To Be Part Of The DCU For An Absurdly Long Time

By Mark McPherson | Updated

david harbour thunderbolts
David Harbour in Black Widow (2021)

David Harbour is ready to join the DCU with Creature Commandos and plans to stay for years. The actor has been confirmed to play the role of Frankenstein, an undead soldier with enhanced abilities. It’s a role the actor hopes to wear for a long time.

This won’t be the first time that David Harbour has been in a comic book movie. He’s a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having appeared in 2021’s Black Widow. He played the role of the aged Russian super-soldier, The Red Guardian, which he’ll reprise for the upcoming film Thunderbolts.

“I think it’s something where I just love these worlds so much that it’s a joy to do and a joy to work with someone so creative. So, if they want me to do eight to 10 years of this, I feel like I’ll check my schedule, but I’ll try to free up some time.”

-David Harbour on playing Frankenstein for DC

As is the trend with comic book movie franchises, DCU leader James Gunn is trying to establish a universe connected by movies and television. So, while Creature Commandos will be an animated TV series, Gunn aims to be just as connected as the movies.

Frankenstein in Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #1 (DC Comics, 2006)

With this connected universe in mind, David Harbour might be doing more than a voice role. He may be showing up in a DCU live-action movie or TV series. It’s a possibility that Gunn felt he had to make Harbour aware of.

According to an interview via Collider, David Harbour spoke with James Gunn about the character’s possible future. Even though Harbour didn’t know much about Creature Commandos, he was aware of the challenges that come with playing a comic book character. He also confessed his love of working within such creative worlds.

Harbour stated, “I think it’s something where I just love these worlds so much that it’s a joy to do and a joy to work with someone so creative. So, if they want me to do eight to 10 years of this, I feel like I’ll check my schedule, but I’ll try to free up some time.”

Upcoming David Harbour Projects

David Harbour does have a busy schedule beyond comic book movies. He still stars as Hopper on the Netflix series Stranger Things. He also has plenty of film roles, having recently played a drunk and vicious Santa Claus in 2022’s Violent Night.

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Violent Night (2022)

Create Commandos is based on the DC Comics ensemble of monster heroes. The animated series will feature the team led by Amanda Waller, who also manages the Suicide Squad. And, yes, Viola Davis will voice Waller, reprising her role from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.

With Waller present, Creature Commandos will have established ties to other DCU TV projects. Waller will return for other DC TV shows, including her spin-off simply titled Waller.

The Frankenstein that David Harbour plays will be more akin to the comics than the Mary Shelley book character. The comic book character is more of a ragtag soldier. So, it’s Frankenstein if he went on missions that required him to fire guns and work with other monster heroes.

Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #3 (DC Comics, 2006)

Not much else is known about Creature Commandos at this time. It will be animated, but it’s not certain if it’ll be intended for families or strictly for adults. Given Gunn’s work on irreverent Peacemaker, it will likely be intended for adult audiences, more akin to Warners Bros’ Harley Quinn animated series.

Whatever the show is, Harbour seems on board for whatever James Gunn has planned, even if it spans many years. Creature Commandos is currently set for a release in 2024.