James Gunn Reveals Official Title and Full Cast for DC’s Gorilla Grodd Series

James Gunn has officially pulled back the curtain on one of the DC Universe’s most unusual upcoming projects.

HBO Max has given an eight-episode straight-to-series order to The People v. Gorilla Grodd, a true crime mockumentary comedy set within the DCU. Skyler Gisondo will reprise his Superman role as Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen, while Jimmy Tatro will portray the hyperintelligent DC villain Gorilla Grodd.

Gunn announced the news on social media, describing the series as DC Studios’ “first foray into the true crime genre.” He also revealed that the project was one of the shows he and Peter Safran pitched to Warner Bros. Discovery before officially taking control of DC Studios.

The series comes from American Vandal creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, who will serve as writers, showrunners and executive producers. Their involvement offers a pretty clear indication of the tone DC Studios is aiming for, blending the familiar structure of a serious true crime documentary with the absurdity of investigating crimes committed by characters from the DC Universe.

According to the fictional Daily Planet announcement shared by Gunn, Jimmy Olsen is directing an in-universe documentary examining the infamous murder trial of Gorilla Grodd. Grodd was convicted of murdering and consuming the brain of his father, King Grodd, but has maintained his innocence while incarcerated.

Olsen is granted access to interview Grodd inside Stryker’s Island Penitentiary as his investigation begins to uncover what the Daily Planet describes as a “lesser-seen side” of the superintelligent ape.

The show will also bring back several familiar faces from Superman. Beck Bennett returns as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant and Wendell Pierce as Perry White. Additional cast members include Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Dan Perrault and Arian Moayed.

Gunn and Safran said the chemistry between Gisondo and the Daily Planet cast in Superman convinced them there was more of that corner of the DCU worth exploring.

The People v. Gorilla Grodd also provides DC Studios with an unconventional way to expand its universe beyond traditional superhero stories. Rather than immediately introducing Grodd as the centerpiece of a massive superhero battle, audiences will meet the longtime Flash villain through an investigative comedy focused on Metropolis’ criminal justice system.

The project joins an expanding lineup of DC Studios television projects and marks another direct extension of the world established in Gunn’s Superman.

HBO Max has not yet announced a premiere date for The People v. Gorilla Grodd.

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