Gorilla Grodd is coming to the DC Universe in his own HBO Max series, The People v. Gorilla Grodd, and set photos from the production have revealed a surprising link to Superman’s secret identity. The images show Grodd attending Metropolis University in 2015, the same time Clark Kent was studying there. This timeline detail offers a fresh in-universe reason why nobody connected Clark Kent to Superman during his college years. The show is a true-crime mockumentary starring Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd.
Gorilla Grodd Goes To College
Filming for The People v. Gorilla Grodd began in early September 2026 at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. The university campus is standing in for Metropolis University in the series. Set photos shared by @AtlantaDCFans on X show a practical gorilla suit on campus, dressed in preppy college clothing.
“The shots come via AtlantaDCFans on X, with several images showing Grodd in smart attire, as well as a cap and gown, suggesting the series involves him graduating from college at some point.” — SlashFilm
Additional set videos show Grodd performing with an a cappella group, singing Backstreet Boys’ “As Long as You Love Me” and LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem.” Another image shows him in a graduation cap and gown, confirming that the super-intelligent ape completed his university education. Eduardo Franco, who is reportedly playing Matter-Eater Lad, was also spotted on set.
The Metropolis University Timeline Clue
A key detail from the set photos is a banner on the Metropolis University campus that reads “160 Years, 1855–2015.” This confirms that some scenes in the series take place in 2015. The date matters because of what the 2025 Superman movie established about Clark Kent’s past.
The 2025 film revealed that Clark Kent holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Metropolis University, earned cum laude. The movie also established that Clark was 29 years old in 2025. This means he was around 19 or 20 years old in 2015, which is typically sophomore or junior year for an American university student.
Clark Kent and Gorilla Grodd were on the same campus at the same time. They may have even crossed paths. The set photos show Grodd in a white button-up shirt, patterned sweater vest, and gray slacks, fitting right into campus life. The series appears to lean into the humor of a super-intelligent gorilla living an ordinary college life.
Why This Explains Superman’s Secret Identity
The DCU has already addressed the long-running question of how Clark Kent keeps his identity hidden. James Gunn confirmed that Clark Kent wears “Hypno Glasses” made from a material that hypnotizes people. The glasses project an image of Clark that looks different from Superman.
“That’s canon in the comics. It’s kind of been forgotten but that’s from the comics. I was sitting with Tom King, the comic book writer…” — James Gunn
The Gorilla Grodd timeline adds another layer. During Clark’s college years in 2015, Metropolis was dealing with the presence of a super-intelligent talking gorilla on campus. Students and staff had their attention on the strange ape attending classes, joining a cappella groups, and graduating. Clark Kent, a quiet journalism student, would not have stood out. The timeline detail gives a practical reason why nobody paid close attention to Clark’s comings and goings.
The People v. Gorilla Grodd Story And Cast
The People v. Gorilla Grodd is an eight-episode half-hour comedy framed as a true-crime docuseries. The official logline describes the plot:
“A superintelligent ape is convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. In an eight-part ‘true’ crime docuseries, the Daily Planet’s Jimmy Olsen reopens the case, investigating whether Gorilla Grodd was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis’ most famous murder trials.”
Skyler Gisondo returns as Jimmy Olsen from the 2025 Superman film. Jimmy Tatro plays Gorilla Grodd. Other returning cast members from Superman include Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.
New cast members include Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz. The series comes from Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the creators of the Netflix mockumentary American Vandal.
Gorilla Grodd’s Role In The Wider DCU
Gorilla Grodd first appeared in the DCU in the animated series Creature Commandos. In that show, Circe showed Amanda Waller a vision of a future where Grodd allies with Princess Ilana Rostovic to conquer the world. The vision showed Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and many other heroes dead on the battlefield.
This makes Grodd a key figure in the DCU’s future. The fact that he is getting his own series before characters like Batman and Wonder Woman have their own projects shows how important he is to James Gunn’s plans. The show is also reportedly adding two more Flash villains, Murmur and Golden Glider.
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Release Details And Where To Watch
The People v. Gorilla Grodd does not have an official release date yet. HBO Max gave the show an eight-episode straight-to-series order in August 2026. The series is expected to premiere after Man of Tomorrow, the Superman sequel scheduled for 2027. Early predictions suggest a release window in 2028.
The show will stream on HBO Max in the United States. For international audiences, HBO Max is available in Canada, the UK, Australia, and other markets where the platform operates. In India, DC content typically streams on JioHotstar. The first season of the series has already started filming, with production taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.
Also Read: Lanterns Episode 5 Recap: John Stewart Rejects the Ring and Explains Guy Gardner Superman Twist
Stay with VvipTimes for more updates on The People v. Gorilla Grodd, the DCU, and Superman’s next chapter.
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