Last month, we learned that DC Studios' "DC Crime" series is officially moving forward as The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd, with HBO Max giving the project an eight-episode, straight-to-series order. As filming continues in Atlanta, we have word of a late addition to the show's cast.
The series will star Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, along with Superman supporting players Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White. Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz are also on board in undisclosed roles.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the show will also feature the DCU debuts of Heather Kelley and the Newsboy Legion, and it looks like the former has now been cast.
According to Deadline, Sara Gilbert (The Connors, The Big Bang Theory) will play "an important journalist." The site speculates that the character could be Lana Lang, Vesper Fairchild, or Vicki Vale, but taking the earlier report into account, Kelley is obviously a safer bet.
Kelley was a Daily Planet reporter and anchor of the show "News Around the World," who was introduced as a potential new love interest for Clark Kent in the pages of Superman.
The People vs. Gorilla Grodd follows a "superintelligent ape who is convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. In an eight-part true crime docuseries, the Daily Planet's Jimmy Olsen reopens the case, investigating whether Gorilla Grodd was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis' most famous murder trials."
"Between Skyler’s wonderful performance and the fantastic chemistry of the Daily Planet cast, we knew coming out of 'Superman' that this would be a fun world to explore," said DC Studios co-CEOs and TPVGG executive producers James Gunn and Peter Safran.
"We're excited to work with the brilliant Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda to take the audience down some of the darker and funnier streets and alleyways of the DCU as Jimmy spotlights the Metropolis criminal justice system for his docuseries," they added.
Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, showrunners, writers, and executive producers, said: "We’re excited by the challenge of creating a series that feels less like an entry into the DCU and more like an artefact from it. A Daily Planet original documentary made for the people of Metropolis."
"We hope it’ll appeal to fans of the comics, comedy and true crime," they continued. "And while we can’t speak for audiences here yet, we already know it’s a huge hit in Metropolis. They love this series."
Amy Gravitt, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming, Head of HBO & HBO Max Comedy Series, added: "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."
"We already know Skyler Gisondo is pitch-perfect as Jimmy Olsen, and we can’t wait for fans to experience Jimmy Tatro’s captivating and hilarious portrayal of Grodd."