DC Studios and Warner Bros Television are developing a new series titled The People v Gorilla Grodd, which cinematic universe executives have clarified is the only DC show currently in the works for television.
The project will serve as a spin-off to the upcoming Superman film and forms part of the Gods and Monsters chapter of the revamped cinematic universe.
The People v Gorilla Grodd will focus on Jimmy Olsen and a team of reporters at the Daily Planet newspaper as they investigate cases connected to super-powered villains.
The series will specifically exclude the Daily Planet's most famous staff members, Lois Lane and Clark Kent, leaving Olsen to lead the journalistic investigations.
Daily Planet spin-off
In Superman lore, Jimmy Olsen is traditionally depicted as a young photojournalist and reporter who works closely with Kent and Lane at the Metropolis-based publication. The Daily Planet itself is a cornerstone of the DC universe, serving as the primary news outlet covering superhero activities.
The new television series will center on the case of Gorilla Grodd, a super-intelligent ape. According to the premise, Grodd has been found guilty of murdering his father, King Grodd, who served as the king of Gorilla City.
Gorilla Grodd is a long-standing antagonist in DC Comics, typically portrayed as a highly evolved primate with telepathic abilities, vast intellect, and a desire for global domination. Gorilla City is traditionally depicted as a hidden society of advanced apes located in Africa.
Gods and Monsters
The confirmation that The People v Gorilla Grodd is the sole DC series in development clarifies the television strategy for the comic book brand going forward.
DC Studios is currently building a renewed, interconnected cinematic universe under the Gods and Monsters banner. This new continuity will begin on screen with the release of the new Superman feature film, establishing the world that the Daily Planet reporters will inhabit.
Warner Bros Television continues to produce the series alongside DC Studios, allowing the companies to build out the supporting characters and locations from the Superman franchise on television while reserving major heroes for theatrical releases.
