HBO Max Greenlights The People v. Gorilla Grodd: Jimmy Olsen Spin-Off Explained
DC fans are getting a surprisingly unusual new series.
HBO Max has officially given an eight-episode, straight-to-series order to The People v. Gorilla Grodd, a new half-hour comedy from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television. The series will expand the world introduced in James Gunn’s Superman while putting Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen at the centre of a bizarre true-crime investigation.
Jimmy Olsen Returns
Skyler Gisondo will reprise his role as Jimmy Olsen, the energetic Daily Planet photographer first introduced in Gunn’s 2025 Superman movie.
But this time, Jimmy won’t simply be working alongside Superman and Lois Lane.
Instead, he becomes an investigator.
The story follows Jimmy as he reopens Gorilla Grodd’s case, a super-intelligent ape who killed his father and was convicted.
Jimmy believes something may be wrong with the conviction and decides to investigate whether Grodd was actually responsible for the crime.
A Superhero Show Without the Usual Superhero Formula
What makes The People v. Gorilla Grodd particularly interesting is its unusual format.
The producers present the project as an eight-part ‘true crime’ docuseries within the DC Universe, not a superhero series.
In other words, audiences will essentially watch Jimmy Olsen produce a documentary about one of the strangest criminal cases in Metropolis.
That gives the series a completely different tone from the usual DC superhero stories.
James Gunn described it as DC Studios’ first venture into the true-crime genre, while creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault have described the project as something that should feel like an actual documentary produced inside the fictional world of the DCU.
Jimmy Tatro Plays Gorilla Grodd
One of the biggest surprises in the announcement is Jimmy Tatro, who will portray Gorilla Grodd.
Grodd is traditionally one of DC’s most recognizable villains, particularly as an enemy of The Flash.
However, this series appears ready to present the character in a very different way.
Instead of simply portraying Grodd as a supervillain causing destruction, the story will centre on whether he was wrongly convicted of killing his father.
That mystery is likely to form the backbone of the series.
Familiar Faces From Superman Are Returning
Gisondo and Tatro won’t be alone.
Several actors from James Gunn’s Superman are returning for the new series.
The announced cast includes:
- Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
- Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd
- Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard
- Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant
- Wendell Pierce as Perry White
The additional cast includes Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds and Tim Baltz.
Bringing back members of the Daily Planet team should help the new series maintain a connection with the world established in Superman.
The American Vandal Connection
Another reason the project is attracting attention is the creative team behind it.
Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the creators of Netflix’s American Vandal, are developing the series.
That connection makes the mockumentary format particularly exciting.
American Vandal became known for parodying the serious style of modern true-crime documentaries while maintaining a straight-faced approach to ridiculous situations.
The People v. Gorilla Grodd appears to be taking a similar approach, but this time the ridiculous investigation takes place inside the DC Universe.
James Gunn and Peter Safran Are Involved
DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are executive producers on the project.
Gunn’s involvement isn’t surprising considering that Jimmy Olsen was introduced in his Superman film.
The new show also allows DC Studios to explore another side of the universe without having to make every project revolve around a major superhero.
Instead, audiences will get a closer look at the people, media and criminal justice system operating in Metropolis.
When Will It Premiere?
There is currently no official premiere date for The People v. Gorilla Grodd.
What has been confirmed is that the first season will consist of eight half-hour episodes.
Fans may therefore have to wait for further announcements regarding production and the eventual release schedule.
Why This Could Be One of DC’s Most Interesting New Shows
At first glance, The People v. Gorilla Grodd sounds completely ridiculous.
A Daily Planet photographer investigating whether a super-intelligent gorilla was wrongly convicted of murdering his royal father isn’t exactly the type of premise audiences normally associate with a Superman spin-off.
But that’s precisely what makes it interesting.
The DC Universe has traditionally been filled with superheroes, villains, aliens and massive battles.
This series appears to be taking a completely different route by asking what happens when those extraordinary characters become the subjects of a documentary.
It could also give Jimmy Olsen more room to develop beyond his role as a supporting character.
Instead of simply being the photographer who follows Superman around, Jimmy gets to become the journalist investigating one of Metropolis’ biggest mysteries.
Final Thoughts
The People v. Gorilla Grodd is certainly one of the most unexpected projects to emerge from the new DC Universe.
With Skyler Gisondo returning as Jimmy Olsen, Jimmy Tatro playing Gorilla Grodd, and the American Vandal creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault behind the project, the series has plenty of ingredients for something genuinely different.
The combination of DC superheroes, true-crime storytelling and mockumentary comedy could either become one of the strangest experiments in the franchise—or one of its biggest surprises.
For now, there is no release date, but DC fans definitely have a very unusual case to look forward to.
Would you watch a true-crime comedy about Jimmy Olsen investigating Gorilla Grodd? Let us know in the comments.
