The People v Gorilla Grodd — confirmed cast, plot details, and what else we know so far about the Superman spin-off show on HBO Max | Tech Radar
Overview
News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
Details
Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards.
Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
The People v Gorilla Grodd — confirmed cast, plot details, and what else we know so far about the Superman spin-off show on HBO Max
The People v Gorilla Grodd is officially in development — here's what we know about it so far
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Skyler Gisondo's Jimmy Olsen is the lead character of this HBO Max TV Original (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios)
- Officially announced in August
- Billed as a crime mockumentary show
- No confirmed release date
- Trailer yet to be revealed
- Main cast confirmed
- Story synopsis has been released
- Unclear how it'll impact the wider DC Universe
The People v Gorilla Grodd is officially in the works at DC Studios.
Initially positioned as a Superman spin-off show tentatively titled DC Crime, the forthcoming crime mockumentary series will star Jimmy Olsen and many other familiar faces from Metropolis-based news outlet The Daily Planet. It'll also feature the live-action debut of Gorilla Grodd, aka one of The Flash's most famous adversaries, in a DC comic book project.
With development on the HBO Max program underway, I suspect you're ahem going ape over this announcement and want to know more about it. You've come to the right place, then, because you'll find more information on the DC Universe (DCU) TV show below, including its confirmed cast and plot brief. So, here's what we know so far about The People v Gorilla Grodd (TPv GG).
The People v Gorilla Grodd release window prediction
Gorilla Grodd will make his live-action debut in this DCU TV show (Image credit: DC Comics)
The People v Gorilla Grodd was only announced in mid-August, so you won't be shocked to read that it doesn't have a firm release date yet.
It might not be long before the cameras begin to roll on the DCU TV series, though. Indeed, while some of its cast members were shooting Man of Tomorrow, aka the sequel to last year's Superman movie, DC Studios co-head and Man of Tomorrow's director James Gunn has confirmed that principal photography has wrapped on that film. It's possible, then, that TPv GG could enter full production before the end of 2026.
Superman TV spin-off gets official title, cast, and plot reveal — and a wild new fan theory
Lanterns: release date, trailer, cast, plot, and what else we know about the DC Universe's Green Lantern TV show
Clayface: release date, trailer, cast, plot, and everything else we know about the DC comic book horror movie
If filming starts soon, we could see TPv GG in late 2027. However, with what I'd expect to be a lengthy post-production process, I think it's more likely it'll debut on HBO Max, aka one of the world's best streaming services, in early 2028.
The People v Gorilla Grodd trailer: is there one?
Will we see Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane in The People v Gorilla Grodd? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
No. If my early 2028 release window prediction is correct, I doubt we'll see one before the end of 2027. Whenever a teaser gets shared online by DC Studios, I'll update this section.
We'll see at least four of The Daily Planet's employees in this Superman off-shoot (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Possible spoilers follow for The People v Gorilla Grodd.
Here's the DCU Chapter One TV series' confirmed cast so far:
The first four names, all of whom work at The Daily Planet, will be familiar to anyone who's seen 2025's Superman movie. Gisondo had a fairly large supporting role in that film, while Bennett, Hoover, and Pierce only appeared in a couple of scenes.
The Gilded Age season 4: everything we know about the hit HBO Max show's return
X-Men '97 season 3: everything we know so far about the Marvel TV show's return on Disney+
What are the Manhunters in Lanterns? The HBO Max show's apparent villains, explained
On the newcomers' front, Tatro (American Vandal) is the only actor whose role has been announced. He'll play Gorilla Grodd, aka the hyperintelligent and telepathic ape this crime-comedy series focuses on.
As for the other six stars, their character identities are being kept under wraps. However, industry insider Apocalyptic Horseman has claimed Moayed (Wonder Man, Ms Marvel) will portray the prosecutor who helped to put Grodd behind bars. Meanwhile, per Apocalyptic Horseman again, Franco (Stranger Things) is playing a close friend of Grodd's.
Will this Superman spin-off feature the Kryptonian as his civilian alter ego, Clark Kent? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Could other individuals possibly make an appearance? David Corenswet's Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane, who are also Daily Planet reporters, are surprisingly conspicuous by their absence from the cast list. It'll be interesting to see whether they're added in a cameo or supporting role at a later date. Or, depending on when TPv GG is set in relation to Man of Tomorrow, if they'll have to sit this one out.
Elsewhere, given this series is based around Grodd, it would be surprising if Barry Allen/The Flash didn't show up. That said, Gunn and fellow DCU overseer Peter Safran haven't said if they'll introduce their version of the Scarlett Speedster anytime soon, so he might just be referenced in The People v Gorilla Grodd rather than appear in the flesh.
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
Here's the official logline for TPv GG: "A super-intelligent 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."
That would've been enough to go on for now. However, DC Studios released an even longer story synopsis as part of the above X/Twitter post.
Dan Perrault, who's also in the cast, and Tony Yacenda. They're the creative minds behind Netflix crime mockumentary show American Vandal, so they're well equipped for this similarly positioned production. The pair are its showrunners, writers, and executive producers, while Yacenda will be on sole directing duties. Messrs Gunn and Safran will also executive produce the series.
"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."
As for what else we know about TPv GG, it'll be a half-hour comedy comprising eight episodes, and produced by DC Studios in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television.
How will The People v Gorilla Grodd impact the DCU?
It's currently unclear if Man of Tomorrow will predate The People v Gorilla Grodd (Image credit: Jim Lee/James Gunn/Instagram)
Nobody knows. Right now, we can't say where it'll sit on the DCU timeline, whether it'll be a standalone project that doesn't significantly affect DCU Chapter One's overarching narrative, and/or whether putting Grodd front and center will set the stage for The Flash's eventual introduction in this cinematic franchise.
Until Gunn or someone else gives us some firm details on the above, your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully, it won't be too long before more light is shed on TPv GG and its potential impact on the DCU.
In the meantime, read up on everything we know so far about Man of Tomorrow, get the full lowdown on Creature Commandos season 2, and find out whether Peacemaker season 3 will ever be made.
Follow Tech Radar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.
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.
An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.
Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.
Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
The People v Gorilla Grodd: what we know so far about the Superman spin-off show
Apple TV prices are going up again, and viewers say they've had enough
AWS is shutting down Mechanical Turk, which let humans beat AI at certain work tasks
The Razer Naga V3 Pro is a jack-of-all-trades mouse — but is it a master of none?
I love the Xteink X4 Pro, but I’d hesitate to recommend it to most people
Tech Radar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.
Key Takeaways
- News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
- Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
- Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards
- Unlock instant access to exclusive member features
- Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards
