HBO has ordered The People v. Gorilla Grodd, an eight-episode comedy set within James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Universe. The half-hour series follows Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen as he investigates a notorious murder trial involving a superintelligent gorilla.
The project arrives after 2025’s Superman, 2026’s Supergirl and ahead of the 2027 sequel Man of Tomorrow. Its mockumentary approach is designed to resemble workplace and faux-documentary comedies such as The Office, Parks and Recreation and American Vandal.
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A murder case in Gorilla City
The story is framed as an eight-part true-crime documentary produced for the people of Metropolis. Gorilla Grodd, the superintelligent ruler’s son, has been convicted of killing his father, the King of Gorilla City. Jimmy Olsen reopens the case to examine whether Grodd was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis’ most famous trials.
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.
The Superman cast returns
Skyler Gisondo will reprise his role as Jimmy Olsen, with Jimmy Tatro playing Gorilla Grodd. Several other Superman performers are also returning: Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.
The wider cast includes Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds and Tim Baltz.
Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the creators of Netflix’s American Vandal, will act as showrunners, writers and executive producers. Yacenda is also directing every episode. Gunn and Safran are executive producers.
Gunn and Safran said the chemistry between Gisondo and the Daily Planet cast convinced them that this corner of the DC Universe was worth exploring. They described the series as a chance to follow Jimmy through the darker and funnier parts of Metropolis’ criminal justice system.
Yacenda and Perrault said their aim was to make the programme feel less like a conventional DC Universe instalment and more like an in-world Daily Planet documentary. They hope it will connect with fans of comics, comedy and true crime, adding that Metropolis’ residents already consider it a hit.
Who is Gorilla Grodd?
John Broome and Carmine Infantino created Gorilla Grodd, who first appeared in The Flash #106 in 1959. Over the following decades, the super-ape became a recurring figure across DC animated productions and video games.
Grodd has also appeared in live-action through The CW’s Arrowverse, first in The Flash and later in Legends of Tomorrow. His most notorious live-action storyline involved travelling through time to kill a college-aged Barack Obama. In that episode, Grodd delivers the line, “Time to make America Grodd again.” Whether the new HBO series can surpass that particular moment remains unknown.
A comic-book case with an arcade-friendly twist
Although the series is built around television comedy and DC characters, its mystery format should appeal to fans who enjoy investigations, villains and larger-than-life action. Readers exploring similar themes through interactive entertainment can browse RETROCADE’s arcade light-gun games or compare options in the arcade machine buying guide.
For anyone planning a home gaming setup around superhero and science-fiction favourites, RETROCADE also offers arcade machines and compact bartop arcades.
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