What if “Making a Murderer” existed in the DC Universe? What if Jimmy Olsen hosted it? And what if the first case investigated a psychic super-intelligent gorilla?
DC Studios and HBO Max are developing exactly that: a fictional true crime series called “DC Crime” that will be presented as an in-universe docuseries hosted by Jimmy Olsen, portrayed by Skyler Gisondo. The first season will focus on Gorilla Grodd, the telepathic simian supervillain best known for his battles with The Flash.
If this sounds delightfully absurd, that’s because it’s coming from the perfect creative team to pull it off.
The ‘American Vandal’ Duo Returns to Mock a Genre
Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault—the masterminds behind Netflix’s critically acclaimed mockumentary “American Vandal”—will serve as writers, executive producers, and showrunners on “DC Crime.” James Gunn and Peter Safran of DC Studios will also executive produce, with DC Studios’ Galen Vaisman overseeing production for Warner Bros. Television.
For those unfamiliar with their work, Yacenda and Perrault created one of the most inventive comedies of the streaming era with “American Vandal.” The show brilliantly spoofed the true crime documentary boom by applying that genre’s dead-serious investigative style to high school pranks—first examining who spray-painted penises on 27 cars in a school parking lot, then investigating a cafeteria lemonade contamination incident dubbed “The Brownout.”
The result was both hilarious and surprisingly compelling. “American Vandal” won a Peabody Award for its first season and earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Despite critical acclaim and passionate fan support, Netflix canceled the show after two seasons—a decision that disappointed many and left the creators’ unique mockumentary talents underutilized.
Until now.
From High School Pranks to Gorilla Crime
“DC Crime” represents a perfect evolution of Yacenda and Perrault’s sensibility. Instead of investigating teenage vandalism with forensic intensity, they’ll be applying that same earnest true crime style to the inherently ridiculous premise of superhero villainy.
Imagine the gravitas of “The Jinx” or “Serial” applied to questions like: How does a gorilla develop psychic powers? What motivated his reign of terror? Were there warning signs that Gorilla City’s society missed? Can he be rehabilitated? What does justice look like when the perpetrator is a telepathic ape?
It’s absurd on its face, but that’s precisely why it works. The humor comes from the absolute sincerity with which the format treats inherently comic book material—the same formula that made “American Vandal” so effective.
Jimmy Olsen: Investigative Journalist Extraordinaire
Casting Jimmy Olsen as the host is inspired. Superman’s pal, traditionally portrayed as an eager young photographer or cub reporter at the Daily Planet, has long been due for a reinvention that takes his journalism seriously while acknowledging the bizarre world he inhabits.
Skyler Gisondo brings the perfect energy to the role. The actor, known for projects like “Booksmart” and “The Righteous Gemstones,” possesses both the earnestness necessary for the documentary format and the comedic timing to play the straight man in increasingly absurd situations.
In the DC Universe, Jimmy Olsen would have unparalleled access to superhero crime stories. He’s friends with Superman, connected to the Justice League, and presumably has sources throughout Metropolis and beyond. A true crime series hosted by Olsen isn’t just a clever gimmick—it’s a logical extension of his character into a format that makes perfect sense for his world.
Who Is Gorilla Grodd?
For the uninitiated, Gorilla Grodd is one of DC Comics’ most enduring villains despite—or perhaps because of—his inherently ridiculous premise. First appearing in 1959, Grodd is a member of an advanced society of gorillas in Gorilla City, Africa, who gained psychic powers and enhanced intelligence after encountering an alien spacecraft.
Unlike his peace-loving gorilla brethren, Grodd is driven by an insatiable hunger for power and conquest. He’s telepathic, can control minds, possesses superhuman strength, and has frequently attempted to take over both Gorilla City and the human world. He’s primarily a Flash villain but has tangled with the entire Justice League at various points.
The character has appeared across numerous DC animated series and films, establishing himself as a fixture of the DC Universe. He made multiple appearances in The CW’s “Arrowverse” shows, most notably in “The Flash,” where he was rendered through impressive (for television) CGI.
What makes Grodd perfect for “DC Crime” is that he’s simultaneously a legitimate threat and absurdly over-the-top. He’s a giant talking gorilla with mind control powers who wants to rule the world. That premise practically begs to be examined through the lens of serious documentary investigation.
The Mockumentary Pedigree
Yacenda and Perrault’s mockumentary credentials extend beyond “American Vandal.” The duo created the Paramount+ series “Players,” which applied their documentary style to the world of eSports. While it didn’t achieve the same cultural impact as “American Vandal,” it demonstrated their ability to bring authentic insider detail to niche subcultures while finding comedy in taking those worlds seriously.
Before their streaming success, they created parodies for CollegeHumor, including spoofs of ESPN’s “30 for 30” series about “Rocky IV” and “Angels in the Outfield”—projects that showed their love for sports documentaries and their skill at mimicking that format’s conventions while finding humor in absurd premises.
Yacenda has since worked on Hulu’s “Chad Powers” and FX’s “Dave,” while Perrault recently appeared onscreen in the Shondaland-Netflix series “The Residence.” But “DC Crime” represents their return to the mockumentary format that made them stars.
How It Fits Into DC Studios’ Strategy
Under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s leadership, DC Studios has embraced creative risk-taking and genre experimentation. Their approach emphasizes character-driven storytelling that can exist within the larger DC Universe while standing alone as distinct artistic visions.
“The Penguin” proved that serious, grounded crime drama could work within DC’s world. “DC Crime” takes the opposite approach—acknowledging the inherent absurdity of superhero universes while treating that absurdity with complete sincerity.
It’s also worth noting that this represents continued partnership between DC Studios and HBO Max, which has become the primary home for DC’s more experimental television projects. The premium streaming platform offers creative freedom that network television wouldn’t allow, giving Yacenda and Perrault room to fully commit to their vision.
The True Crime Boom Meets Superhero Saturation
“DC Crime” arrives at a moment when both true crime documentaries and superhero content have reached cultural saturation. The true crime boom shows no signs of slowing, with services like Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu churning out endless investigations of murders, cons, and mysteries. Meanwhile, superhero fatigue has become a genuine industry concern as audiences grow weary of formulaic blockbusters.
By mashing these two oversaturated genres together, “DC Crime” has the potential to satirize both while creating something genuinely fresh. It’s a self-aware commentary on our cultural obsessions—our endless appetite for true crime content and our decades-long dominance of superhero narratives—packaged as exactly the kind of show it’s gently mocking.
The format also allows DC Studios to explore corners of their universe that wouldn’t support traditional narratives. Not every villain needs a grimdark origin story film or a straightforward action series. Some work better as subjects of mockumentary investigation, where the format itself provides the comedy and commentary.
What We Don’t Know (Yet)
Key questions remain unanswered. Will “DC Crime” exist entirely within the DC Universe continuity, or will it be more loosely connected? Will it reference events from DC films and shows, or maintain its own separate reality? How will the show handle the supernatural and superheroic elements through a documentary lens—will Jimmy use actual footage of Flash fighting Grodd, or will the show rely on reenactments and witness interviews?
The mockumentary format raises fascinating narrative possibilities. Will Grodd himself be interviewed? Will victims and witnesses include other DC characters? How does investigative journalism work when the subject can read minds and control people telepathically?
And perhaps most importantly: if the show succeeds, which DC villain gets the second season treatment?
The Bottom Line
“DC Crime” represents exactly the kind of creative swing that makes James Gunn and Peter Safran’s tenure at DC Studios exciting. It’s weird, it’s specific, and it trusts audiences to appreciate both superhero lore and sophisticated genre parody.
By reuniting the “American Vandal” creative team and giving them access to DC’s vast rogues gallery, the show has the potential to be something truly special—a mockumentary that’s both laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely compelling, a true crime series that happens to feature a telepathic gorilla supervillain, and a DC project unlike anything the studio has produced before.
If nothing else, it will finally give Jimmy Olsen something interesting to do beyond being Superman’s pal. And who knows? Maybe after investigating Gorilla Grodd, he’ll move on to the Joker’s crime spree, Lex Luthor’s corporate malfeasance, or that time Darkseid tried to conquer Earth.
The truth is out there. And apparently, it involves a psychic gorilla. We can’t wait to watch Jimmy Olsen investigate.
