When the announcement came that James Gunn and Peter Safran would step down as co-heads of DC Studios, the ripple effect was felt across every corner of the franchise. Projects that had already been green-lit, or were mid-production, suddenly found themselves in limbo. Among those caught in the cross-currents is the HBO Max comedy-drama The People v. Gorilla Grodd, a series that blends true-crime mockumentary style with classic superhero lore.
Actor Skyler Gisondo, who will reprise his role as Jimmy Olsen from the 2025 Superman film, addressed the uncertainty during a promotional interview for his new movie Focker-in-Law. While he declined to speculate on corporate strategy, his comments illuminate the anxiety shared by many involved in the DC Universe’s current Chapter 1 rollout.
Leadership turnover and its impact on DC’s slate
The departure of Gunn and Safran follows Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to hand over control of its film and TV assets to Skydance. That move has already led to notable budgetary reshuffling, most famously the shelving of the completed Batgirl film as a tax write-off. Industry observers worry that a similar fate could await other unreleased titles, especially those without a firmly established fan base.
With former WBD chief David Zaslav steering the company toward a more fiscally conservative model, every project now faces tighter scrutiny. While the new co-CEO Jeremy Latcham is slated to assume his role on December 1, the official stance on the pending DC series remains vague. The uncertainty is compounded by the fact that Gunn and Safran continue to serve as executive producers on the still-in-post-production show, leaving the creative team in a state of “wait and see.”
What we know about The People v. Gorilla Grodd
The eight-episode series was ordered straight-to-series by HBO Max earlier this year. It adopts a mock-true-crime format, positioning journalist Jimmy Olsen (Gisondo) as the investigator who reopens the case of Gorilla Grodd—a telepathic ape who, after an encounter with an alien spacecraft, acquired psychic abilities and was subsequently convicted of murdering his own father, the ruler of Gorilla City. The premise deliberately mixes the absurd with the procedural, offering a fresh lens on DC’s villain roster.
Alongside Gisondo, the cast includes Jimmy Tatro as the titular Grodd, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and veteran Wendell Pierce as Perry White. New faces such as Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco and Arian Moayed round out a roster that bridges the familiar Daily Planet crowd with fresh comedic talent. Production entered post-production weeks ago, and while the series still lists Gunn and Safran as executive producers, there is no confirmed premiere date on HBO Max.
Gisondo’s perspective and the road ahead
When asked directly whether he believed the series would see the light of day, Gisondo answered with a candid, “That kind of stuff is definitely above my pay grade.” He went on to express genuine admiration for the departing leaders, stating, “I love James and Pete so much. I think they’ve done a great job, and I’m so grateful to them both.” The actor emphasized that many questions remain unanswered and that he hopes to collaborate with the duo again in the future.
Gisondo also hinted that the production team is still completing post-production work, and that the series may still be tied into the broader DC narrative, especially with the upcoming summer blockbuster Man of Tomorrow slated for July 9, 2027. However, without a clear directive from the new studio leadership, the series’ fate hangs in the balance, echoing the cautionary tale of the discarded Batgirl movie.
