James Gunn's Superman spin-off show finally has an official name and confirmed cast — and DC comic book fans say it's a perfect way to introduce The Flash to the DCU | Tech Radar
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James Gunn's Superman spin-off show finally has an official name and confirmed cast — and DC comic book fans say it's a perfect way to introduce The Flash to the DCU
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Skyler Gisondo will return as Jimmy Olsen in this eight-part crime comedy docuseries (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios)
The title and cast of James Gunn's Superman spin-off have been revealed
The People v. Gorilla Grodd will be a mockumentary series fronted by Jimmy Olsen
DC fans think it's the perfect project to introduce The Flash to the DCU
James Gunn's Superman spin-off show is officially in development at DC Studios — and its title, cast, and premise suggest it could be the most unusual DC Universe (DCU) project so far.
Nine months after it emerged that a Superman TV off-shoot was in the works, the actual name of a production tentatively titled DC Crime has finally been revealed. It's called The People v. Gorilla Grodd and, as was previously reported, it'll be a mockumentary series that'll center on the hyper-intelligent, telepathic ape known as Gorilla Grodd.
Until now, we'd known next to nothing else about the DCU Chapter One TV show. But, with the eight-episode, half-hour crime comedy series officially greenlit by HBO Max, and DCU overlords Gunn and Peter Safran, we have a much clearer picture of what it's about and who'll star in it.
The People v. Gorilla Grodd cast: who's involved? And where's Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane?
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The new DC Studios series The People v. Gorilla Grodd is coming soon to HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/c Mfgyh C2j 6 August 21, 2026
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The new DC Studios series The People v. Gorilla Grodd is coming soon to HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/c Mfgyh C2j 6 August 21, 2026
No. Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the creatives behind Netflix crime mockumentary show American Vandal, have been installed as The People v. Gorilla Grodd's showrunners, writers, and director. They're part of its executive producing team, too, which also includes Gunn and Safran.
Per an HBO Max press release, The People v. Gorilla Grodd will reunite viewers with four characters from last year's Superman movie, all of whom work for Metropolis news outlet The Daily Planet.
Skyler Gisondo's Jimmy Olsen has been installed as the show's protagonist. Meanwhile, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White, who all had minor roles in Superman, are also set to feature.
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Curiously, Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane isn't part of proceedings. Does this have something to do with her role in 2027 Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow? I guess we'll find out at some point.
There are plenty of other familiar faces among the TV project's ensemble. Jimmy Tatro is the most noteworthy of those new DCU additions, with the American Vandal alumnus set to play Grodd.
Mary Holland (Ghost), Eduardo Franco (Stranger Things), Arian Moayed (Wonder Man), Dan Perrault (American Vandal), Andrew Leeds (Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist), and Tim Baltz (The Righteous Gemstones) are also involved, though their roles are being kept under wraps.
What is the plot of The People v. Gorilla Grodd?
The forthcoming crime comedy show will examine a potential miscarriage of justice involving Gorilla Grodd (Image credit: DC Comics)
Here's the official logline for The People v. Gorilla Grodd: "A superintelligent ape is convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. In an eight-part 'true' crime docuseries, the Daily Planet’s Jimmy Olsen reopens the case, investigating whether Gorilla Grodd was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis’ most famous murder trials."
But wait, there's more, because the above X/Twitter post gives us a more detailed look at the show's wider narrative.
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"The People v. Gorilla Grodd will take a fresh, 360-degree look at the case, revealing the 'lesser-seen side' of the hyper-intelligent ape, according to the film's first-time director Jimmy Olsen," it reads. "Olsen was granted unprecedented, exclusive access to interview Grodd inside Stryker's Island Penitentiary for the documentary.
"Grodd has long claimed his innocence in the murder and brain consumption of his father, King Grodd — a crime he was convicted of in March 2021 and has remained incarcerated for ever since. The series will take an in-depth look at the investigation, featuring brand new reporting from members of the Daily Planet staff, as well as interviews with witnesses and experts on both Grodd's and the Metropolis District Attorney's side of the case, including Grodd's new counsel at the Metropolis Freedom Project."
Will The Flash appear in The People v. Gorilla Grodd?
Nobody knows, though I can see why DC comic book fans are suddenly excited about such a possibility. After all, Gorilla Grodd is one of The Flash's most notorious foes, so it's perfectly understandable that some believe that the speedy metahuman — real name Barry Allen — could make his DCU debut here.
In fact, some fans have already convinced themselves that The Flash will show up in The People v. Gorilla Grodd. Threads on r/DCULeaks and r/DC_Cinematic are sprinkled with such comments, so it'll be interesting to see if the Scarlett Speedster makes an appearance or not whenever the series is released.
Are you excited for The People v. Gorilla Grodd, or would you rather DC Studios focus on introducing Batman and Wonder Woman to the DCU? Let me know in the comments.
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As Tech Radar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
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