HBO Max Orders Jimmy Olsen Series The People v. Gorilla Grodd

Skyler Gisondo returns as Jimmy Olsen in an eight-episode DC comedy that turns Gorilla Grodd’s famous murder case into a bizarre true-crime investigation.

Jimmy Olsen Is Getting His Own DC Series

August 22, 2026 – HBO Max has officially ordered The People v. Gorilla Grodd, an eight-episode, half-hour comedy set within the current DC Universe. The series brings back Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, the Daily Planet photographer he first played in Superman.

The show takes a very different approach from a conventional superhero spinoff. Instead of following Jimmy into another costumed adventure, the series presents itself as a fictional true-crime documentary in which Olsen investigates one of Metropolis’ most unusual criminal cases.

The project comes from Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the creative team behind American Vandal, with Yacenda directing all eight episodes. DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are also executive producers.

Credit: The Wrap

Gorilla Grodd Is at the Center of the Mystery

The central case involves Gorilla Grodd, a superintelligent ape accused and convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City.

Rather than accepting the conviction, Jimmy reopens the case and begins investigating whether Grodd was wrongly convicted. The format allows the series to explore the fictional crime through interviews, evidence and the kind of investigative storytelling associated with true-crime documentaries.

That premise also gives the show a distinct comedic identity within the DC Universe. The story is not simply about stopping a supervillain; it is about examining a notorious case and questioning whether the official version of events is correct.

Skyler Gisondo Returns as Jimmy Olsen

Gisondo’s return is one of the strongest connections between the new series and Superman. His Jimmy Olsen was introduced as part of the Daily Planet team in James Gunn’s 2025 film, alongside David Corenswet’s Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane.

The series will expand Jimmy’s role by making him the central investigator rather than a supporting newsroom character. His enthusiasm for pursuing the case is expected to provide much of the comedy as he digs into a murder trial involving one of DC’s most unusual characters.

Gisondo’s return also means the series can continue building the Daily Planet world established in Superman without requiring the story to center on Superman himself.

Jimmy Tatro Plays Gorilla Grodd

Jimmy Tatro will portray Gorilla Grodd, giving the character a major comedic role in the new series. Grodd is one of DC’s most recognizable supervillains and is traditionally depicted as a highly intelligent, telepathic gorilla with ambitions that extend far beyond ordinary criminal activity.

The new series is putting him into an unusual situation: instead of being the obvious villain in a superhero conflict, Grodd becomes the subject of a criminal investigation.

That shift is central to the show’s concept. Whether Grodd is guilty, misunderstood or the victim of a flawed prosecution becomes the mystery Jimmy is trying to solve.

Credit: Jesse Grant; DC Comics

Superman Cast Members Are Returning

Several actors from Superman are also returning for the HBO Max series. Beck Bennett reprises Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover returns as Cat Grant and Wendell Pierce is back as Perry White.

The returning Daily Planet characters help anchor the series in the same version of Metropolis established by Gunn’s film. Their involvement also gives Jimmy a familiar workplace environment as he pursues the Grodd investigation.

The additional cast includes Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Andrew Leeds and Tim Baltz, although their specific roles have not yet been revealed.

The Series Has an American Vandal Connection

The choice of Yacenda and Perrault is particularly fitting for a show built around a fake documentary investigation. The duo previously created American Vandal, the Netflix comedy that parodied true-crime documentaries through completely fictional cases.

That experience gives The People v. Gorilla Grodd an established creative foundation for combining deadpan investigative storytelling with absurd subject matter. Yacenda will direct all eight episodes in addition to serving as co-showrunner and executive producer, while Perrault will share showrunner duties.

The format could allow the series to poke fun at familiar true-crime conventions while still expanding the DC Universe.

James Gunn Wants a Different Side of the DC Universe

Gunn and Safran said the series will explore some of the “darker and funnier” corners of the DC Universe through Jimmy’s investigation into Metropolis’ criminal justice system.

That approach fits the broader direction of the current DCU, where not every project needs to follow a traditional superhero formula. The show can exist alongside larger DC stories while concentrating on a comparatively small-scale mystery.

It also gives audiences another way to experience Metropolis. Instead of seeing the city primarily through battles involving superheroes and villains, viewers will see it through journalists, police investigations and a bizarre criminal trial.

There Is No Premiere Date Yet

Although HBO Max has given the series a straight-to-series order, a premiere date has not been announced. The project has received an eight-episode order, but details about when production will begin and when the completed episodes will arrive remain limited.

For now, the official order and cast announcement are the major developments. More information about production, additional characters and the eventual release schedule is expected as the series moves forward.

The show will also exist within the evolving DC Universe that Gunn and Safran are building across film and television. Its connection to Superman makes it one of the more direct television extensions of the new DCU.

What Makes The People v. Gorilla Grodd Different

The biggest selling point is the format. A Jimmy Olsen-led true-crime mockumentary about a murder trial involving Gorilla Grodd is considerably different from a conventional superhero series.

That unusual premise allows the creators to use DC mythology while approaching it through comedy, investigative journalism and fictional documentary storytelling. It also makes Jimmy an active participant in the world rather than simply an observer of Superman’s adventures.

With Gisondo leading the cast and Yacenda and Perrault shaping the series, The People v. Gorilla Grodd could become one of the strangest—and potentially most distinctive—projects in the new DC slate.

Final Thoughts

HBO Max’s order for The People v. Gorilla Grodd gives the DC Universe a very different kind of spinoff. Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen will investigate whether Gorilla Grodd was wrongly convicted of murdering his father, with the entire case presented as a fictional true-crime documentary.

With Jimmy Tatro playing Grodd and several Superman cast members returning, the series has a strong connection to the developing DCU while carving out its own comedic identity. A premiere date has not yet been announced, but the eight-episode order makes the project official.

FAQs

What is The People v. Gorilla Grodd about?

The series follows Jimmy Olsen as he reopens the case of Gorilla Grodd, a superintelligent ape convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City.

Who plays Jimmy Olsen?

Skyler Gisondo will reprise his role as Jimmy Olsen from Superman.

Who plays Gorilla Grodd?

Jimmy Tatro will play Gorilla Grodd in the new HBO Max series.

How many episodes will the series have?

HBO Max has ordered eight half-hour episodes.

Is The People v. Gorilla Grodd part of the DC Universe?

Yes. The comedy is being produced by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television and is set within the current DC Universe connected to Superman.