Gorilla Grodd is finally getting his moment in the DCU, but not in the way anyone could have predicted. The super-intelligent ape is stepping out of the shadows for a bizarre new chapter alongside one of Metropolis’ most familiar faces, turning a classic DCU villain into the centerpiece of something far more unconventional. Forget the usual capes, punches, and world-ending battles, because this time, Grodd’s story is taking a detour into territory that could make the DCU’s strangest corners even stranger.

And somehow, the legendary villain is trading superhero chaos for a case file, a camera crew, and one very curious reporter.

Gorilla Grodd is officially making his way into HBO Max’s upcoming DCU mockumentary The People v. Gorilla Grodd, with Jimmy Tatro taking on the role of the super-intelligent ape. The series puts a fresh spin on one of DC’s most recognizable villains, moving Grodd away from a conventional superhero showdown and into the center of a strange true-crime-style story. Meanwhile, in an official statement issued by Warner Bros. Discovery, HBO Executive Vice President of HBO Programming Amy Gravitt said the team is thrilled to bring these iconic DCU characters to HBO Max in a new and unexpected way.

“We are thrilled to be working with Tony and Dan, alongside James, Peter, the entire DC team and our colleagues at WBTV, to bring these iconic DCU characters to HBO Max in a new and unexpected way,” said Executive Vice President of HBO Programming Amy Gravitt. 

However, adding to the official statement, Gravitt praised the casting, saying the team already knows Skyler Gisondo is “pitch-perfect” as Jimmy Olsen and that fans will get to see Jimmy Tatro’s “captivating and hilarious portrayal” of Grodd. The eight-episode series will follow Grodd’s case through a documentary format designed to feel like an actual piece of Metropolis media. Gisondo will reprise his role as Jimmy Olsen from Superman, joining Tatro at the center of the series. Beck Bennett returns as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White. Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz round out the surprisingly packed ensemble.

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But Grodd’s strangest DCU chapter gets even wilder once Jimmy starts digging into the case.

The People v. Gorilla Grodd follows Jimmy Olsen as he reopens one of Metropolis’ most infamous m***** trials while investigating whether Grodd was wrongly convicted. The official premise centers on the superintelligent ape being accused of m******** his father, the King of Gorilla City, turning Jimmy into an unlikely investigator chasing answers that could shake up the city’s criminal justice system. Rather than treating the story like a traditional superhero adventure, the show presents it as an eight-part “true” crime docuseries created from inside the DCU itself.

That unusual approach comes from American Vandal creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, who will serve as writers and showrunners, with Yacenda directing all eight episodes. James Gunn and Peter Safran are also executive producers, while DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television handle production. 

And, by turning the super-intelligent ape into the center of a true-crime mockumentary, the DCU is giving a beloved villain a wildly different playground, one that could be just as hilarious as it is unexpected.

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What do you think about Gorilla Grodd getting his own DCU mockumentary? Let us know in the comments.