DCU’s New Project ‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd’ in Production at HBO Max

James Gunn’s DC Universe continues to surprise fans with its tonal shifts, seamlessly transitioning from the gritty ensemble drama of ‘Creature Commandos’ to the noir-inspired world of ‘Lanterns’. This willingness to explore different genres is quickly becoming a hallmark of this new era of DC storytelling.

The latest addition embraces comedy, emerging from an unexpected part of Metropolis. Instead of yet another straightforward superhero spinoff, HBO Max is focusing on one of ‘Superman’s’ memorable supporting characters for a project that reimagines the DCU through the lens of high-end true crime television.

This project is ‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd,’ which HBO Max has officially greenlit for a straight-to-series order of eight episodes. The mockumentary follows Daily Planet staffer Jimmy Olsen, portrayed by Skyler Gisondo, as he directs and stars in a true-crime show investigating whether Gorilla Grodd was wrongfully convicted in one of Metropolis’ most notorious murder trials. According to the official logline, Gorilla Grodd, played by Jimmy Tatro, is a superintelligent ape found guilty of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City.

This series marks a reunion of sorts, bringing back several familiar faces from 2025’s ‘Superman.’ Gisondo reprises his role as Jimmy Olsen alongside fellow cast members Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White. Additional cast members include Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz, rounding out the ensemble.

Behind the scenes, DC Studios has assembled a creative team with impressive credentials in the mockumentary genre. ‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd’ comes from ‘American Vandal’ creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, who will serve as showrunners and writers, with Yacenda directing all eight episodes. This pedigree is significant, as ‘American Vandal’ earned acclaim for its satirical take on the true-crime documentary format, blending absurd humor with genuine investigative storytelling.

HBO Max embraced this spirit in its announcement, releasing a mock Daily Planet press release promoting Olsen’s in-universe documentary alongside the official news. According to the same press materials, HBO’s Amy Gravitt, executive vice president of HBO Programming and head of HBO & HBO Max comedy series, stated, “We already know Skyler Gisondo is pitch-perfect as Jimmy Olsen and we can’t wait for fans to experience Jimmy Tatro’s captivating and hilarious portrayal of Grodd.”

James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios, also shared their thoughts on why this segment of the DCU felt perfect for a spinoff. They noted, “Between Skyler’s wonderful performance and the fantastic chemistry of the Daily Planet cast, we knew coming out of ‘Superman’ that this would be a fun world to explore,” adding that they’re eager to collaborate with Perrault and Yacenda “to take the audience down some of the darker and funnier streets and alleyways of the DCU as Jimmy spotlights the Metropolis criminal justice system for his docuseries.”

Yacenda and Perrault framed the project as one that should feel less like a conventional television series and more like a piece of media that genuinely exists within the DCU. The showrunners expressed, “We’re excited by the challenge of creating a series that feels less like an entry into the DCU and more like an artifact from it. A Daily Planet original documentary made for the people of Metropolis. We hope it’ll appeal to fans of the comics, comedy, and true crime.”

‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd’ joins a growing lineup of DCU television projects that already includes ‘Creature Commandos’ and ‘Lanterns,’ further showcasing how far Gunn and Safran are willing to push the boundaries of what a superhero universe show can entail. While no release date has been announced yet, the returning cast from ‘Superman’ and the creative minds behind ‘American Vandal’ leading the project have already sparked significant excitement.

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