James Gunn’s ‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd’ Introduces Familiar ‘Smallville’ Villain

voice film logo squareArthur S. Poe
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‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd‘ has emerged as one of the more unconventional projects from James Gunn’s DC Studios since the franchise reboot. This eight-episode comedy shifts away from traditional superhero narratives, focusing instead on a mockumentary about a talking gorilla on trial for murder. The series follows Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen, portrayed by Skyler Gisondo, as he revisits the case against Gorilla Grodd, a superintelligent ape convicted of killing and consuming the brain of his father, the King of Gorilla City.

Created by Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the duo behind ‘American Vandal,’ they are writing, directing, and showrunning the entire season, with Gunn and Peter Safran producing. This true crime format background helps shape the tone, leaning more towards a docuseries parody than a conventional superhero spinoff.

Recently, production footage from Atlanta has sparked speculation among fans that the show may incorporate an unexpected element from Superman’s history. New set videos and photos have surfaced showing campaign signs reading “Ray Sacks For Mayor” scattered throughout the Metropolis setting, a name that resonates with longtime fans of the WB series ‘Smallville,’ where Ray Sacks was a recurring villain in the ninth season.

Currently, the signage is the only indication linking the character to the new series, and DC Studios has not confirmed whether Ray Sacks will actually appear in the final episodes. It’s possible that the name serves merely as a background joke or a visual easter egg rather than a significant plot point.

Nevertheless, this detail fits perfectly within a show that has embraced a rich, background-heavy portrayal of Metropolis. The true crime format allows for exploration of corners of the DCU that a straightforward Superman film might overlook. Gunn and Safran have described the approach as a way to “explore the darker and funnier streets and alleyways of the DCU as Jimmy spotlights the Metropolis criminal justice system,” according to the official series announcement.

In addition to the Ray Sacks mystery, the cast of ‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd’ features familiar faces from Gunn’s ‘Superman’ film, including Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce reprising his role as Perry White. Jimmy Tatro lends his voice to Gorilla Grodd, while the extended cast includes Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz.

HBO’s executive vice president Amy Gravitt has framed the series as an opportunity to reintroduce well-known DCU characters in a unique manner, expressing the network’s excitement to present these iconic characters on HBO Max in a fresh and unexpected way. Yacenda and Perrault have also articulated their desire for the series to feel “less like a DCU entry and more like an artifact from it,” appealing to comic readers, comedy enthusiasts, and true crime fans alike.

While no release date has been announced for the series, which is still in production in Atlanta, fans are eagerly analyzing every frame for clues. The sighting of Ray Sacks is precisely the type of detail that this dedicated fandom tends to latch onto, especially considering the affection that still surrounds ‘Smallville’ nearly two decades after its debut.

The potential connection to Ray Sacks is intriguing as it aligns with Gunn’s broader strategy of constructing the DCU as a cohesive, intricately layered universe rather than a series of isolated projects. Including a reference to a show that predates the current DCU reboot suggests that the creative team is comfortable drawing from decades of Superman-related media, not just the comics, to enrich the portrayal of Metropolis.

Whether Ray Sacks will appear as a character running for office or simply serve as a piece of set decoration, this discovery has already achieved its goal of keeping fans engaged with a show that has generated considerable buzz based on its premise alone. For a series centered around a talking gorilla’s murder trial, a hint of mystery regarding other characters in Metropolis only enhances its appeal.

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