HBO Max Orders Jimmy Olsen Superman Spinoff; Cast Revealed
HBO Max Orders "The People v. Gorilla Grodd" — A Hilarious True-Crime Comedy Set in the Superman Universe
What’s the Big News?
HBO Max just gave the green light to a brand-new eight-episode comedy series called "The People v. Gorilla Grodd." Think of it like Making a Murderer or The Jinx — but set in Metropolis, starring Superman’s best pal Jimmy Olsen, and featuring a super-smart, psychic gorilla as the prime suspect.
Important Point: This isn’t your typical superhero show. It’s a half-hour mockumentary (fake documentary) that pretends to be a real true-crime series made by the Daily Planet for the people of Metropolis.
Meet the Cast: Familiar Faces & Fresh Talent
The Leading Duo
| Actor | Role | Why You Might Know Them |
|---|---|---|
| Skyler Gisondo | Jimmy Olsen | Played Jimmy in the recent Superman movie — "pitch-perfect" per HBO execs |
| Jimmy Tatro | Gorilla Grodd | Comedian/actor bringing "captivating and hilarious" energy to the psychic ape |
Returning Superman Stars (Reprising Their Roles!)
- Beck Bennett → Steve Lombard (Daily Planet sports editor, Clark’s rival)
- Mikaela Hoover → Cat Grant (Gossip columnist, media mogul)
- Wendell Pierce → Perry White (Gruff but lovable Editor-in-Chief)
New Additions to the Daily Planet Crew
- Mary Holland
- Eduardo Franco
- Arian Moayed
- Dan Perrault (also co-showrunner!)
- Andrew Leeds
- Tim Baltz
Who’s Behind the Camera?
Showrunners & Creative Leads
- Tony Yacenda – Co-showrunner, writer, EP, director of all 8 episodes
- Dan Perrault – Co-showrunner, writer, EP, also acts in the show!
Fun Fact: This duo created American Vandal — the genius high school true-crime parody. They know exactly how to nail the "fake documentary" vibe.
Executive Producers (The Big Bosses)
- James Gunn & Peter Safran – Co-CEOs of DC Studios (yes, the architects of the new DC Universe)
- Amy Gravitt – Head of HBO & HBO Max Comedy Series
What’s the Story? (No Spoilers!)
The Premise in 3 Steps
- The Crime: Gorilla Grodd — a superintelligent ape with psychic powers — is convicted of murdering his own father, the King of Gorilla City.
- The Twist: Years later, Jimmy Olsen (now a docuseries host) reopens the case for a Daily Planet original.
- The Journey: Across 8 episodes, Jimmy investigates: Was Grodd framed? Did the Metropolis justice system get it wrong?
Who Is Gorilla Grodd Anyway?
- Created in 1959 by comic legends John Broome & Carmine Infantino
- Origin: Got psychic powers + super-intelligence after an alien spaceship encounter
- Recent Appearance: Part of the CW’s Arrowverse (TV’s shared DC universe)
- Now: Getting his own comedy trial — literally!
Where Does This Fit in the DC Universe?
HBO Max’s Growing DC Slate
| Show | Genre | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Lanterns | Space cop drama | Just launched — solid ratings! |
| The People v. Gorilla Grodd | True-crime comedy | Greenlit — 8 episodes ordered |
| Stuart Fails to Save the Universe | Superhero-adjacent comedy | Renewed for Season 2! |
Key Insight: Gunn & Safran say this show explores "darker and funnier streets and alleyways of the DCU" — not just capes and punches, but systems, courts, and journalism.
What the Creators Are Saying
Amy Gravitt (HBO Comedy Chief):
"We’re thrilled… to bring these iconic DCU characters to HBO Max in a new and unexpected way."James Gunn & Peter Safran (DC Studios Heads):
"Between Skyler’s wonderful performance and the fantastic chemistry of the Daily Planet cast… we knew this would be a fun world to explore."Tony Yacenda & Dan Perrault (Showrunners):
"We’re excited by the challenge of creating a series that feels 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. And while we can’t speak for audiences here yet, we already know it’s a huge hit in Metropolis. They love this series."
Summary: Why Should You Care?
Fresh Take: Superhero universe + true-crime parody = something we’ve never seen before
Proven Comedy Brains: American Vandal creators + Superman movie cast chemistry
DCU Building Block: Part of Gunn/Safran’s new connected universe — but standalone enough to jump in
Short & Sweet: 8 half-hour episodes = easy binge, low commitment
Meta Fun: A show within a universe, made by characters for characters — layers!
FAQ: Your Burning Questions, Answered
Do I need to watch Superman (2025) or read comics to understand this?
Nope! The show is designed as a "Daily Planet artifact" — meaning it exists in-universe but works as its own story. If you know Jimmy Olsen = cub reporter, you’re golden.
Is Gorilla Grodd a "good guy" or "bad guy" here?
That’s the whole mystery! The show investigates whether his conviction was justice or a setup. Expect moral gray areas — and lots of jokes.
Will Superman appear?
Not confirmed. The focus is Jimmy’s investigation. But hey — it’s the DCU. Cameos are always possible!
When does it come out?
No official release date yet. The series was just formally ordered (casting was done early). Stay tuned to HBO Max announcements.
Is this for kids?
Likely TV-MA or TV-14. American Vandal was TV-MA. Expect adult humor, satire, and maybe some language — but no graphic violence.
Final Thought
"The People v. Gorilla Grodd" isn’t just another superhero spin-off — it’s a genre-bending experiment that asks: What if the Daily Planet made a Netflix-style docuseries about a psychic gorilla’s murder trial?
With the American Vandal team at the wheel, a killer cast, and DC’s new creative leaders backing it, this could be the smartest, funniest, weirdest thing to hit the DCU yet.
Metropolis loves it. Will you?