First Look at Gorilla Grodd in Set Photos for HBO Max’s ‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd’
DC Studios has spent the past year demonstrating its willingness to embrace the unconventional with its post-‘Superman’ expansion, venturing beyond traditional superhero narratives into unique television formats. With animated spinoffs and a Green Lantern series already receiving positive reviews, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU clearly has a taste for creative risks.
This experimentation reaches new heights with ‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd,’ an eight-episode half-hour comedy that follows Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen, portrayed by Skyler Gisondo, as he reopens a murder investigation involving the superintelligent ape Gorilla Grodd. Styled as a true-crime mockumentary reminiscent of ‘American Vandal,’ the series stands out as one of the more unusual entries in DC Studios’ expanding lineup.
Recently, new set photos have provided fans with their first look at production, featuring a placeholder figure representing Grodd during filming. According to sources sharing the images, the character will be rendered entirely through CGI upon the series’ completion, indicating that the figure seen on set is merely a stand-in for blocking and lighting purposes.
Jimmy Tatro, recognized for his roles in ‘American Vandal’ and ‘Home Economics,’ will portray Gorilla Grodd, marking his debut in the DC Universe. He is joined by several familiar faces from ‘Superman,’ including Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce reprising his role as Daily Planet editor Perry White.
The cast also features Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz, all of whom have undisclosed roles as of the show’s initial announcement. This blend of comedic talent reflects the show’s ambitions, emphasizing character-driven humor over traditional superhero spectacle.
The series is created by Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the minds behind Netflix’s acclaimed mockumentary comedy ‘American Vandal.’ Yacenda and Perrault serve as writers, showrunners, and executive producers, with Yacenda directing all eight episodes, ensuring a cohesive creative vision throughout the series.
According to the official logline, Gorilla Grodd is convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City, and Jimmy Olsen’s docuseries aims to investigate whether that conviction was justified. This premise positions the show less as a typical superhero narrative and more as a satirical exploration of the DCU’s criminal justice system, seen through Olsen’s lens as an in-world documentarian.
James Gunn and Peter Safran expressed their excitement for the project in a statement to Variety, noting that they recognized the chemistry among the Daily Planet cast as a compelling aspect of the DCU worth exploring further. They emphasized that collaborating with Perrault and Yacenda would allow them to delve into the darker and funnier aspects of Metropolis through Jimmy’s docuseries perspective.
This endorsement comes amid a wave of positive momentum for DC Studios’ television projects, following the favorable reception of ‘Lanterns’ earlier this year. With Gisondo’s portrayal of Jimmy Olsen already garnering praise from ‘Superman’ audiences, HBO Max appears confident in expanding his role into a full-fledged spinoff.
As production progresses and Grodd’s CGI transformation awaits, ‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd’ is still in the early stages of its journey toward release. While no official premiere date has been announced yet, the show’s unconventional format and the talent behind it have already made it one of the most anticipated DC Studios projects currently in development.
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