In the opinion of most, Dawn of the Dead scriptwriter James Gunn directed The Suicide Squad with many improvements on 2016's Suicide Squad in many ways, but the most surprising is the character of Rick Flag. Having debuted as the character in David Ayer's original, Joel Kinnaman returned to play a different, but seemingly linked version. Since The Suicide Squad's release, Kinnaman has been accused of sexual assault and is under investigation by the Swedish Prosecution Agency.
Flag first appeared in the pages of DC Comics in 1959, although what fans who only watch DC movies might not be aware of is that there have actually been three different Rick Flags; a father, son, and grandson. To avoid confusion though, it makes sense not to dwell on that in the movie realm. Flag has only appeared onscreen in live-action three times, the first coming during an episode of The CW's Smallville, played by prolific Canadian TV guest star Ted Whittall. The other two times have come in with Joel Kinnaman playing Flag in both Suicide Squad movies, one of only four actors to play the same role in both David Ayer's and James Gunn's films.
Since Kinnaman returned, one might assume the Rick Flag fans see in The Suicide Squad would be pretty similar to the 2016 version. However, due to a change in how the character is written, that's actually not the case. This new version of Flag is a huge improvement, for several reasons.
As presented in Suicide Squad 2016, Kinnaman's Rick Flag was quite bland, and probably the least interesting character in the cast. How much of that is due to Kinnaman's performance choices is up for debate, but the script was clearly the main culprit. 2016 Flag was a fairly generic military leader with a gruff demeanor, and little personality outside of that, and his shoehorned-in romance with Enchantress. Yet, in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, Altered Carbon's Joel Kinnaman suddenly portrays a version of Flag that feels like an actual person, and a pretty likable one at that. Flag shows ability as a leader, empathizes and bonds with his team of outcasts, gets drunk and parties with them before what might be their last days on Earth, and shows a charm and personality that just weren't there last time.
He also shows an admirable tendency to pick the right thing over his Amanda Waller-mandated mission, which surfaced a bit in Suicide Squad 2016, but not much. Flag's not-so-subtle encouragement to the freedom fighters as to when they should invade the presidential palace of Corto Maltese is great, as is his clear attachment to prior comrade Harley Quinn, immediately insisting they go rescue her from captivity. Flag's status as a highly improved character is cemented by his death scene, which comes after engaging in a no-holds-barred brawl with future spinoff star, Peacemaker, who has chosen to put mission above integrity. Flag is clearly outmatched physically, but never gives up, even insulting Peacemaker on his way off the mortal coil. If anything, it's a shame Gunn opted to kill him off, as this Flag might be good enough to lead another Suicide Squad movie.