HBO Max has officially ordered The People v. Gorilla Grodd, an eight-episode DC Studios comedy that turns one of DC’s most recognizable villains into the subject of an in-universe true-crime documentary.
Skyler Gisondo will reprise his Superman role as Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen, while Jimmy Tatro will play Gorilla Grodd. The half-hour series comes from American Vandal creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, which tells us more about the show’s approach than the superhero connection alone.
This is not being framed as a conventional spinoff in which Jimmy follows Grodd through another superhero conflict. The documentary exists inside the DC Universe and is supposedly produced by the Daily Planet for the people of Metropolis.
What Is The People v. Gorilla Grodd About?
According to HBO Max’s official description, Gorilla Grodd has been convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. Jimmy Olsen reopens the case and investigates whether the superintelligent ape was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis’ most famous murder trials.
The story will unfold across eight episodes as a true-crime series created within the DCU. That means the audience will be watching the documentary that Metropolis residents would watch, complete with interviews, evidence and an investigation into Grodd’s possible innocence.
Yacenda and Perrault described the project as less of a traditional DCU installment and more of an artifact from that world: a Daily Planet original documentary made for the citizens of Metropolis.
That distinction is important because it gives the series a reason to use the mockumentary format beyond comedy. It can show how journalists, witnesses and ordinary citizens process a murder case involving an intelligent gorilla without treating the strange details as unusual. To them, Gorilla City and metahuman crimes are simply part of the world they live in.
Who Is in the Cast?
Gisondo and Tatro lead the series as Jimmy Olsen and Gorilla Grodd. Several members of the Daily Planet staff from Superman will also return:
- 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 in roles that have not yet been announced.
Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault will write, executive produce and serve as showrunners. Yacenda is also set to direct all eight episodes. James Gunn and Peter Safran will executive produce for DC Studios, with Warner Bros. Television producing alongside DC Studios.
Why the American Vandal Team Fits This Series
Yacenda and Perrault previously created Netflix’s American Vandal, which used the structure and visual language of prestige true-crime documentaries to investigate absurd fictional cases with complete seriousness. Tatro starred in the first season as Dylan Maxwell, the student accused of vandalizing cars at his high school.
That same balance is the obvious foundation for The People v. Gorilla Grodd. The murder case is ridiculous on its surface because the defendant is a superintelligent ape, but the format only works if Jimmy’s investigation treats the evidence, witnesses and possibility of a wrongful conviction seriously.
The creators also have room to build a real mystery underneath the joke. Grodd begins the series as a convicted murderer, so the central question is already clear: did he kill his father, or was one of Metropolis’ most famous trials built around the wrong suspect?
Is This a Superman Spinoff or a Flash Series?
The confirmed cast makes The People v. Gorilla Grodd a direct extension of the Daily Planet side of Superman. Jimmy Olsen is leading the investigation, and Perry White, Steve Lombard and Cat Grant are returning.
Grodd, however, is traditionally associated with the Flash. His presence will naturally raise questions about whether the series could introduce or reference the DCU’s version of the speedster. DC Studios has not announced the Flash or confirmed that he will appear, so any connection beyond Grodd would be speculation for now.
The announced premise does not require a superhero lead. Jimmy is investigating a conviction and examining how the case was handled. Keeping that story centered on journalism could allow DC Studios to expand its universe without turning every project into another superhero battle.
When Will The People v. Gorilla Grodd Premiere?
HBO Max has not announced a premiere date or production start for The People v. Gorilla Grodd. The series has received a straight-to-series order for eight half-hour episodes, but viewers will have to wait for a production update before a release window can be confirmed.
For now, the important development is that the former DC Crime project has an official title, cast, premise and full series order. The next major updates should be the start of filming, first footage and a confirmed HBO Max premiere date.
Sources
- Warner Bros. Discovery: HBO Max orders The People v. Gorilla Grodd
- Deadline: Jimmy Olsen Superman spinoff receives HBO Max series order
- Variety: The People v. Gorilla Grodd set at HBO Max
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