DCU’s Superman spin-off just found its beastly big bad: Gorilla Grodd, report confirms

If you thought we were done with talking monkeys in superhero telly, think again. The DC Universe’s next TV spin-off is going where even the Arrowverse only managed to dabble: Gorilla Grodd is getting the spotlight, and not as your standard villain-of-the-week either.

This Is Not Your Usual Superhero Series

The folks running DC Studios have decided to go full left-field for this one. Instead of capes and biff-pow action scenes, we’re getting what’s described as a 'true-crime docuseries', hosted by none other than Jimmy Olsen. Yes, that Jimmy Olsen—the Daily Planet photographer, this time played by Skyler Gisondo, who’s also popping up in James Gunn’s Superman film. In this TV series, Olsen will be front and centre, taking the audience through Grodd’s criminal history like he’s Louis Theroux for the supervillain circuit.

Who's Carrying the CGI Fur?

Grodd’s been kicking about the comics since the 1950s as an evil, hyper-intelligent, psychic gorilla with designs on running both humankind and apes. He usually hassles The Flash, but this time, he takes top billing. Previously he only got a look-in via CGI and mo-cap on The Flash telly show, but this is his first proper spotlight job in a live-action format outside the Arrowverse.

The furry villain gets a fresh face—in a manner of speaking—with Jimmy Tatro, lately seen in Scream 7, donning the motion-capture suit. Tatro’s mostly known for comedy (he’s in that Will Ferrell golf flick The Hawk, as well as 22 Jump Street and Judgment Day), so it’s something of a surprise casting. But then, if you’re already doing a mock true-crime doc on a psychic monkey, at this point, why wouldn’t you mix it up?

The Talent Behind the Curtain

This oddball concept isn’t coming from just any old showrunner. It’s the duo behind American Vandal, Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, who are writing and running the show. Executive producing up the chain: James Gunn and Peter Safran, plus Galen Vaisman. Warner Bros. TV is bankrolling, naturally.

The Abridged Rundown

• Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) returns as the host of a true-crime series, examining Gorilla Grodd’s criminal career.
• Jimmy Tatro (Scream 7, 22 Jump Street, The Hawk) takes on Grodd in a big mo-cap role.
• Yacenda and Perrault (American Vandal) are at the helm as writers and showrunners.
• James Gunn, Peter Safran and Galen Vaisman executive produce; Warner Bros. TV handles production.
• This marks Grodd’s first major live-action gig outside the Arrowverse universe.
• The exact title and launch date are still under wraps; HBO hasn't given it an official series order—for now.

Deadline reports that casting for Grodd is already done and dusted, even though the series hasn’t been given a proper green light from HBO yet. Sources reckon things are moving along behind the scenes. All in all, it’s a strange but intriguing move—true-crime about an evil gorilla genius, presented by Jimmy Olsen, is certainly a sentence I never thought I’d write out.

'Season 1 will focus specifically on the criminal activities of Gorilla Grodd, a hyper-intelligent ape who frequently battles The Flash.'