The new DC Universe movies are off to a great start, with Superman becoming a smash hit. James Gunn and Peter Safran are intent on building a new DCU on film and naturally expanding it into television. Rather than oversaturate the market,they are taking their time with the right projects.
One is coming out of Superman as The Hollywood Reporter shared that plans are underway for a new series starring Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen. It will come from Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, the creators of the award-winning mockumentary American Vandal, with Gunn among the producers.
The show is so far described as a comedy where Jimmy and other members of the Daily Planet staff investigate odd cases. Season 1 is set to feature Gorilla Grodd, the hyper-intelligent telepathic gorilla who’s a longtime foe of The Flash.
It may seem an odd pick for some fans but the show actually can work as a delightful series that can help shine a spotlight on the lesser-known characters of the DCU!
Why a Jimmy Olsen show can work
Jimmy Olsen may be best known as the freckle-faced, bow-tie wearing photographer for the Daily Planet and Superman’s best friend. But younger readers may not realize how massively popular Jimmy was in the Silver Age, complete with his own book, Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen.
The stories were fun tales where Jimmy would get into various misadventures, including often gaining superpowers as Turtle Boy and Elastic Man, meeting aliens and more. A 2019 revival won wide acclaim for a comedic take on Jimmy bouncing around the DC Universe, investigating his own murder and, at one point, becoming richer than Lex Luthor.
That comic inspired a few elements of Jimmy in Superman, such as being an unlikely ladies’ man (his romance with Lex’s aide Eve Teschmacher ends up saving the day) and Jimmy visiting Grodd’s home of Gorilla City. That lends well to a TV show where Jimmy can explore various corners of the DCU and still retain a sense of humor.
The addition of Grodd is interesting as the character is known to viewers of the CW’s The Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow shows. He's more a monster, albeit one with great intelligence and seriousness. Adding him to this proves Gunn enjoys the quirkier parts of the DC Universe lore and Jimmy finding a city of talking intelligent gorillas to be the coolest place in the world.
This can be a wonderful way to shine a spotlight on lesser-known characters in the DC Universe. There are scores of characters who can be used like Adam Strange, the Blackhawks, Blue Beetle, Zatanna, The Phantom Stranger, Deadman and more. Those are characters who may not sustain their own series yet are perfect for an appearance in a "case of the week" style series.
The show can bounce around from sci-fi to supernatural themes with Jimmy doing anything from hunting ghosts to a spy thriller, perhaps even backed by a supporting cast such as gossip columnist Cat Grant. Giving these characters attention outside of the movies will expand Gunn’s DCU nicely.
The show is still in the planning stages but it looks to be a wonderful way to show off more of the DCU and let Jimmy Olsen shine as a hero in his own way.
Superman is now streaming on HBO Max.