Maria Bakalova Discusses Creature Commandos Season 1 Finale Deaths and Impact on James Gunn’s DC Universe

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS from Creature Commandos Season 1. The season finale of Creature Commandos has sparked discussions, particularly surrounding the significant character deaths that took place. Maria Bakalova, the voice behind Princess Ilana Rostovic in the DC Universe, recently shared insights about the fate of her character and what the future might hold for her within the franchise. The first season, a part of James Gunn’s new DC Universe, culminated with Episode 7, which featured an intense confrontation between the Creature Commandos and Princess Ilana. Tragically, the episode concluded with the death of Nina Mazursky at the hands of the princess.

In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant, Bakalova elaborated on the emotional weight of Nina’s demise, as well as the implications of Princess Ilana’s potential end. Given the nature of superhero narratives—where death is often not final—Bakalova hinted that Princess Ilana’s story might not be completely over. In her words:

Maria Bakalova: Yeah, we saw her in Circe’s vision. We saw her that she’s pretty much capable to kill superheroes somehow. So maybe she also has some superpowers. Who knows? Who really knows a lot about that place Pokolistan? Because I remember I was searching for it online back when I read the script, I was like, ‘Okay, so there is a place that somehow exists with the same name, but do we know more about it?’ Maybe it’s a place that a lot of humans live, but maybe within these people, their people, their preachers, with special abilities, with special powers. So I don’t know…I hope she’s not dead-dead. Maybe some people will be opposite [to] my opinion, because she has made some terrible choices, and she killed basically one of the nicest characters in this show.

ScreenRant: Yeah, no hard feelings. I wasn’t crying at all!

Maria Bakalova: It’s not fair to kill Nina…but I wish both of them survived somehow, and [that] we see them again. Because, to be honest, I think these are my two favorite…it’s difficult to say my favorite characters, but I felt very empathetic towards Nina, and I do want to know more about Ilana. I do want to know why is she like that [laughs] like, ‘Okay, basically you’re supposed to be the hero of your country, and you want to put it on fire? Why? Why do you do that?’ It’s a question that I feel like a lot of us are asking ourselves on the daily basis, but yeah, if we can get more sense of why is she like that in the future, why is she friends with Clayface? [Those are] interesting choices.

Despite the apparent demise of Princess Ilana, Bakalova was also asked whether there might still be an opportunity for her to reappear in the DC Universe under James Gunn’s direction. She expressed enthusiasm about returning to the series:

Maria Bakalova: I would love to! More than anything, because I feel like, with Creature Commandos’ first two episodes premiering back on December 5, and people loving it, it’s the biggest proof that we should keep doing this and the new DC Universe is going to have a great look. And I do want to be associated with something that comes to people and make people think about it, talk about it, feel for it. And knowing that James is going to be behind it, that’s for me, the biggest dream. So anything that he’s doing or he has in mind, I’m ready to jump in and do it.

The Implications of Maria Bakalova’s Comments for the DCU and Creature Commandos Season 2

Bakalova’s statements suggest that the conclusion of Princess Ilana’s arc may not be as definitive as it appears. While Circe’s prophetic vision hasn’t unfolded yet, the suggestion remains that the threat posed by Ilana could still linger, particularly if undisclosed powers are part of her character’s arsenal. It’s conceivable that, although Circe’s foresight has been avoided, a different future scenario could still emerge.

Moreover, since Princess Ilana is an original character developed for the DC Universe, the storytellers have the liberty to explore various narratives involving her in Season 2 and beyond. A character as intelligent as Ilana may well have contingency plans for situations she cannot control. While the second season of Creature Commandos is poised to introduce new threats, the groundwork could be laid for Princess Ilana’s potential return, perhaps even before a reveal that confirms she’s still alive.

Our Perspective on Maria Bakalova’s Creature Commandos and DCU Insights

Based on Bakalova’s reflections shared with ScreenRant, there’s a strong possibility that we may encounter her again in the DC Universe, possibly reprising her role as Princess Ilana or tackling new characters altogether. With a plethora of upcoming DCU film and television projects beyond Creature Commandos, there are numerous avenues available for Bakalova to explore as the franchise evolves. Nevertheless, as it stands, following the season finale, her involvement in the franchise is on pause.

All episodes of Creature Commandos Season 1 are currently available for streaming on Max.

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