We got our first glimpse of a fully practical Gorilla Grodd yesterday as filming commenced on DC Studios and HBO Max's "DC Crime" series, The People vs. Gorilla Grodd, and the initial set photos and videos showed the simian villain graduating from college and singing a Backstreet Boys song.
Not exactly what fans were expecting from this show, although we had been told that TPVGG would put a comedic spin on the "true crime docuseries" format.
Some more videos have now been shared online, and this time we see actor Jimmy Tatro rehearsing a rendition of LMAO's "Party Rock Anthem." It seems this take on the super-intelligent Flash villain will enjoy belting out a tune.
We also see a very dapper-looking Grodd having fun with his a cappella group and showing off his dance moves to a young lady, as well as another shot of Eduardo Franco as Matter-Eater Lad and a first look at Skyler Gisondo as the returning Jimmy Olsen.
We're not really sure how these sequences will factor into the show, but reports from the set claim that The People vs. Gorilla Grodd will feature "fake interviews," just like showrunners Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda's 2017 mockumentary series, American Vandal.
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."
As previously reported, the show will also feature Superman supporting players Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White. Mary Holland, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz are also on board in undisclosed roles.
The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd will also feature the DCU debuts of Heather Kelley and the Newsboy Legion.
"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."