The “Creature Commandos” will fight again: The Max animated series, written and executive produced by DC Studios co-chief James Gunn, has been renewed for a second season on the streaming platform.
The show — about incarcerated non-human monsters conscripted to join a covert black ops team — marks the first official entry in the new DC Universe as fashioned by Gunn and co-chief Peter Safran. It earned wide acclaim following its Dec. 5 premiere; in her review, Variety‘s Alison Herman said the series “is as playful and irreverent as most load-bearing franchise entrants are ponderous and weighted down by obligations to a larger narrative.” The Season 1 finale will debut Jan. 9.
“Only James Gunn could have conjured this wild band of misfit monsters who tug at your heart and force you to root passionately for them,” said HBO & Max comedy programming head Amy Gravitt in a statement. “We couldn’t be more delighted to continue their stories with James, Dean Lorey, Peter Safran and our fantastic partners at DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation.”
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The first season’s voice cast includes Indira Varma as The Bride, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., David Harbour as Frankenstein, Zoe Chao as Nina Mazursky, Alan Tudyk as Doctor Phosphorus, Sean Gunn as GI Robot and Weasel, Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana, Steve Agee as Economos and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.
“We’re thrilled to team up with Max for another season of ‘Creature Commandos’ mayhem,” Gunn and Safran said in a statement. “From our spectacular first season of ‘Peacemaker’ to the astonishing run of ‘The Penguin’ to the record-breaking launch of ‘Creature Commandos,’ Max has consistently delivered above industry expectations and beyond our wildest imaginings.”
Warner Bros. Animation produced the series along with DC Studios; Safran, Dean Lorey and Sam Register are also executive producers, and Rick Morales is a supervising producer.
“Thanks to the brilliant imagination of James and the talent of our amazing artists, DC fans fell in love with this new family of heroes,” said Warner Bros. Animation executive Peter Girardi. “We are excited to continue this wild ride with our partners at Max. You want more monsters, you’re getting more monsters!”