James Gunn continues to broaden the DC Universe (DCU) with a series of highly anticipated projects, including a new TV show centered on Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen. Announced in recent reports, this show will highlight a key villain tied to The Flash, utilizing the momentum of Gunn’s successful expansions like Creature Commandos and Superman. The focus on Gorilla Grodd, The Flash’s notorious adversary, signals a strategic step in deepening the DCU’s narrative complexity and character integration.
A New Series Focused on Jimmy Olsen and Gorilla Grodd’s Story
DC Studios and HBO Max are developing a true-crime mockumentary series titled DC Crime, featuring Jimmy Olsen as the host. Executive producers James Gunn and Peter Safran are collaborating with Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, creators behind American Vandal, to develop this show. The first season will center on Gorilla Grodd, a hyper-intelligent gorilla known for opposing The Flash. Unlike other speedster foes, Grodd’s combination of mental powers and strength provides a unique challenge to the superhero.
This choice of villain is strategic, as it gives the DCU an opportunity to introduce The Flash indirectly. Gorilla Grodd is not just a brute; his telekinesis and telepathy—powers obtained through interaction with an alien species—create a multi-dimensional threat. The Flash will need to display a wider array of skills beyond speed to combat these abilities, enhancing the hero’s onscreen depth.
The Importance of Introducing Core DC Heroes to the Universe
While James Gunn has already enriched the DCU with new characters and ensemble members, including familiar figures from the Superman series like Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), there remains a strong need to bring in some of the central heroes of the DC canon. The perceived absence of legendary metahumans such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and Martian Manhunter raises questions about their roles in the DCU timeline given that metahumans supposedly have existed for centuries.
Introducing The Flash would invigorate the universe significantly, drawing fans’ attention and increasing anticipation for DC Crime. As a foundational figure in DC Comics, The Flash’s presence would solidify the connection between the existing stories and the broader mythology, while also creating essential narrative links for upcoming installments.
Strategic Introduction of The Flash Through ‘DC Crime’
DC Crime offers a compelling narrative device that allows The Flash to be introduced without demanding a fully developed character arc immediately. By using Jimmy Olsen as a host, The Flash can be presented mainly through depictions of his actions and impacts, requiring minimal direct dialogue. This approach minimizes pressure on writers Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault while establishing the character’s significance within the expanding universe.
The need to include The Flash becomes evident when considering the dynamics of the series’ antagonist. One cannot showcase a Flash villain like Gorilla Grodd without showing The Flash himself. Fans and critics alike would resist an attempt to frame Gorilla Grodd’s defeat by another hero, as seen with the misstep involving Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) posing as a Shazam villain adversary. For Olsen, as a top-tier reporter within the DCU, neglecting to feature the hero who triumphed over Grodd would be illogical and detrimental to the storyline’s credibility.
Cast and Key Characters in the DCU Expansion
The new projects continue to feature strong talent, with David Corenswet taking on the role of Superman and Rachel Brosnahan appearing as Lois Lane. Milly Alcock is set to star in the upcoming Supergirl series, another expansion within the DCU. Frequent collaborators, including Nathan Fillion and Isabela Merced as part of the Justice Gang, support Gunn’s vision of a richly interconnected universe, gradually bringing widely recognized characters and new faces together in a cohesive narrative structure.
