James Gunn Describes Jimmy Olsen HBO Series as ‘Both a Jimmy Olsen and a Gorilla Grodd Show’
James Gunn has clarified that the upcoming DC Universe HBO series will serve as both a Jimmy Olsen and Gorilla Grodd show, merging two characters into a single project. The announcement followed Peter Safran’s recent reveal that DC Studios is moving forward with a Gorilla Grodd HBO series beginning production this year, prompting questions about the previously announced Jimmy Olsen project.
Gunn confirmed on Threads that both characters will be central to the narrative, stating: “It’s both a Jimmy Olsen AND a Gorilla Grodd show. And it’s one of my favorite projects. We start filming soon.” The series will star Skyler Gisondo, who made a breakout impression playing the Daily Planet photojournalist in last year’s Superman film.
The dual-character focus represents an evolution in how DC Studios is developing its television projects, with the Jimmy Olsen character—previously established in the recent Superman movie—now sharing the spotlight with a supervillain antagonist. Gisondo’s portrayal of Jimmy Olsen earned positive reception, making him a natural candidate to headline his own series.
The project highlights DC Studios’ continued expansion into television under Gunn and Safran’s leadership, combining character development with action-oriented storytelling centered around the conflict between the photojournalist and the intelligent gorilla supervillain.