The latest rumor about DC Studios’ Jimmy Olsen/Gorilla Grodd HBO series points right back to one of the biggest complaints surrounding James Gunn’s DCU: it all sounds like more of the same.
According to the Apocalyptic Horseman on X, production on the series is scheduled to begin at the end of August and continue through October in Atlanta.
The scooper also reports casting is now underway for Grodd, with actors with comedic backgrounds being considered for the role.
That is the part that jumps out.
Comedic Actors Reportedly Eyed For Gorilla Grodd
Grodd is not just some random gag character. He is one of DC’s most recognizable villains, a super-intelligent, telepathic gorilla best known for battling The Flash. Yes, the character is inherently weird. That comes with the territory. But weird does not automatically mean goofy.
Under Gunn’s DCU, the concern is obvious. When fans hear “comedic actors” and “Gorilla Grodd” in the same sentence, they are not crazy for wondering if DC is about to turn another major comic book character into another joke.
That has been the problem with Gunn’s approach from the start. Everything keeps getting filtered through the same tone. The same quips. The same offbeat humor. The same “look how weird this is” attitude. It worked for Guardians of the Galaxy, but that does not mean it works for everything.
Gunn’s DCU Still Sounds Like One Big Joke
This follows Supergirl bombing at the box office, where fans made it clear they are over Gunn’s goofy approach to comic book characters.
The movie did not fail because audiences suddenly hate DC. It failed because the audience is not buying what Gunn and Peter Safran are selling.
One of the big complaints about the DCU is that everything feels the same. Creature Commandos had the Gunn tone. Peacemaker had the Gunn tone. Superman had the Gunn tone. Supergirl leaned into the same messy, goofy brand.
Now Grodd, one of DC’s more intimidating villains, is reportedly being placed inside a mock true-crime setup with comedic actors being eyed to voice him.
Daily Planet Characters Also Expected To Appear
The report also says other superpowered characters and a lawyer role are being cast, possibly hinting that Grodd could end up on trial. Daily Planet characters are also expected to appear in the series, along with Skyler Gisondo reprising his role as Jimmy Olsen from Superman.
Recall how Marvel went the lawyer and trial route with She-Hulk, which didn’t work out. Daredevil: Born Again has also incorporated some of those legal elements, again, which isn’t exactly a ratings hit.
As we previously covered, Peter Safran already let slip that the Grodd/Jimmy Olsen HBO series would start shooting this year.
“We’ve talked about the Gorilla Grodd show for HBO that we’ll start shooting this year,” Safran said, before adding, “That’s big news by the way. I probably shouldn’t have said that.”
James Gunn later clarified that it is both a Jimmy Olsen and Gorilla Grodd show, not two separate projects, and said it is one of his favorite DCU projects.
