So far, everything fans have seen from The People v. Gorilla Grodd, the upcoming true-crime parody set within the DCU, has led to more questions than answers.
Why is Grodd wearing a sweater vest and slacks before later appearing in a graduation cap and gown? Why is one of DC Comics’ most fearsome villains singing a cappella in a park? Who exactly is the target audience for this show?
Now, at least, DC Studios co-chair James Gunn has clarified another lingering question: How does the series fit into the DCU timeline?
James Gunn introduces the trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 – YouTube, DC
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Gunn responded to a ScreenRant article on Threads while working on Man of Tomorrow. The article claimed the Gorilla Grodd series takes place between Superman and the upcoming sequel.
“Well, no. I mean it’s a true crime series so it jumps all over the place,” Gunn wrote. “But overall in continuity it’s after MoT (and won’t come out until then).”
Skyler Gisondo Previously Put Grodd Before Man of Tomorrow
The confusion started after ScreenRant published an interview with Skyler Gisondo, who reprises his Superman role as Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen.
When asked where the HBO series sits in relation to the Superman films, Gisondo offered a somewhat uncertain answer.
“I think it’s sort of somewhere in between the two. I don’t know. I should probably know more about the answer, but I think the idea is it’s kind of almost adjacent to this main timeline, but before the events of the second movie.”
Jimmy Olsen in Superman – Warner Bros.
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Since the eight-episode series is likely being filmed out of order, Gisondo’s confusion may be understandable. Gunn’s comment also suggests that The People v. Gorilla Grodd will move backward and forward in time, which fits naturally with its true-crime format.
Set photos have already offered evidence of that approach. Grodd has been spotted around what appears to be Metropolis University, wearing everything from a sweater vest to graduation attire. Other footage apparently shows the super-intelligent gorilla singing a cappella and serenading a woman.
Those scenes appear likely to explore Grodd’s past as Jimmy investigates whether the villain was wrongly convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City.
However, Gunn has now established that the show’s primary present-day narrative occurs after Man of Tomorrow.
What Comes After Gorilla Grodd?
Gunn’s latest comment comes a little over a week after HBO boss Casey Bloys revealed to Deadline that there are currently no additional DCU shows in active development beyond The People v. Gorilla Grodd.
When asked whether anything else was actively moving forward, Bloys responded, “No, not right now,” before pointing to Gorilla Grodd, which recently began filming.
That revelation followed an August report indicating that several previously announced DCU projects, including Waller, Paradise Lost, and Booster Gold, are no longer in active development.
Meanwhile, whether Lanterns will receive a second season remains an open question. Taken together, those developments leave The People v. Gorilla Grodd as the only new DCU television series currently known to be moving forward at HBO.
The main characters in DC’s Lanterns on HBO – X, @DiscussingFilm
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That leaves the bizarre true-crime parody in an unusual position. Rather than simply being another entry in an expanding television universe, The People v. Gorilla Grodd currently appears to be the end of the line for DCU television productions actively moving forward at HBO.
The series itself grew out of the previously announced Jimmy Olsen project and will follow Daily Planet reporters investigating supervillain-related cases. Jimmy Tatro will portray Grodd, while American Vandal creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault are behind the eight-episode production.
For now, audiences know The People v. Gorilla Grodd will arrive sometime after Man of Tomorrow. What comes after Grodd on the television side of Gunn’s DCU is a much harder question to answer.
Does it matter to you where The People v. Gorilla Grodd fits in the DCU timeline? Sound off and let us know!
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