HBO Max has ordered The People v. Gorilla Grodd, an eight-episode half-hour comedy starring Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd. The series comes from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television and has received a straight-to-series order.
Several members of the Superman Daily Planet cast are also returning. Beck Bennett will reprise his role as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.
The People v. Gorilla Grodd Is a True-Crime Series From Inside the DCU
The premise takes a very different approach to bringing Gorilla Grodd to the screen. Grodd, a superintelligent ape, has been convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. Jimmy Olsen reopens the case and investigates whether Grodd was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis’ most famous murder trials.
The story will unfold as an eight-part “true” crime documentary made by the Daily Planet. In other words, the series isn’t simply about Jimmy making a documentary. The documentary itself is the show viewers will be watching.
That approach is central to what showrunners Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault want to do with the series. In a statement accompanying HBO Max’s announcement, they described it as something that should feel “less like an entry into the DCU and more like an artifact from it.”
“A Daily Planet original documentary made for the people of Metropolis,” they explained. “We hope it’ll appeal to fans of the comics, comedy and true crime.”
James Gunn and Peter Safran said the idea grew in part from Gisondo’s performance and the chemistry between the Daily Planet characters in Superman.
“Between Skyler’s wonderful performance and the fantastic chemistry of the Daily Planet cast, we knew coming out of ‘Superman’ that this would be a fun world to explore,” Gunn and Safran said.
They also confirmed that Jimmy’s investigation will put the focus on the Metropolis criminal justice system as he digs into Grodd’s conviction.
Who Is in The People v. Gorilla Grodd Cast?
Alongside Gisondo, Tatro, Bennett, Hoover, and Pierce, The People v. Gorilla Grodd will star Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz.
HBO Max has not revealed which characters those additional cast members will play.
Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault will serve as showrunners, writers, and executive producers. Yacenda is also set to direct all eight episodes. James Gunn and Peter Safran executive produce for DC Studios. The series is produced by DC Studios in association with Warner Bros. Television.
HBO Max has not announced a release date for The People v. Gorilla Grodd.