James Gunn’s new DC Universe is diving straight into delightful absurdity. DC Studios and HBO Max have officially greenlit The People v. Gorilla Grodd, a brand-new comedy mockumentary spinoff centered on the Daily Planet’s favorite photographer, Jimmy Olsen. Skyler Gisondo is set to reprise his role as Olsen, thrusting the intrepid young journalist into the center of a bizarre, high-stakes legal spectacle involving one of DC Comics’ most iconic psychic supervillains.
The People Vs Gorilla Grodd, the new show from DC Studios, is coming to HBO Max. Our first foray into the true crime genre. From the creators of American Vandal, starring Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover… pic.twitter.com/FsD4eTD5lP— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 21, 2026
Packed with eccentric court drama, signature Gunn humor, and deep-cut comic lore, the upcoming series promises to explore everyday life in a superhero-filled world like never before. With casting underway, the project cements DC Studios’ commitment to diverse storytelling across television and film.
James Gunn Officially Confirms the Mockumentary, The People v. Gorilla Grodd
image by Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY- SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
DC Studios co-chief James Gunn took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to announce the project to eager fans, sharing key art and confirming the full creative team behind the comedy series. Gunn celebrated the return of the Daily Planet newsroom crew, expressing his excitement about taking audiences down the weirder, funnier alleyways of the DCU.
The series is headed by American Vandal creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, who serve as writers and showrunners, with Yacenda directing all eight half-hour episodes. The story follows Jimmy Olsen as he produces an investigative documentary exploring whether Gorilla Grodd was wrongfully convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City.
The official logline reads (Via Variety):
A superintelligent ape (Tatro) is convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. In an eight-part ‘true’ crime docuseries, the Daily Planet’s Jimmy Olsen (Gisondo) reopens the case, investigating whether Gorilla Grodd was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis’ most famous murder trials.
Jimmy Tatro is stepping in to play the titular telepathic ape, Gorilla Grodd. Alongside Gisondo, several Superman cast members are returning to their newsroom desks, including Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, and Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant.
Rounding out the ensemble are comedy heavyweights Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Tim Baltz, and Andrew Leeds in currently undisclosed roles.
What do you think of James Gunn expanding the DCU with a Gorilla Grodd mockumentary? Let us know in the comments below!
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