Last month, we learned that the DC Studios "DC Crime" series we've been hearing about is officially moving forward as The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd, with HBO Max giving the project an eight-episode, straight-to-series order.
We didn't expect filming to begin so soon, but cameras are now rolling in Atlanta, and the first set photos and videos have been shared online.
The shots reveal a first look at a fully practical Grodd, who appears to be... graduating from college? We assume this huge ape is either a stand-in for the CGI character voiced by Jimmy Tatro, or the simian villain will be brought to life via a mixture of CGI and practical FX.
The video is only a few seconds long, but it may feature a brief soundbite of Tatro's Grodd voice.
The photos also show Stranger Things alum Eduardo Franco, who is believed to be playing Matter-Eater Lad.
As previously reported, the show will star Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, along with Superman supporting players Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White. Mary Holland, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz are also on board in undisclosed roles.
Apocalyptic Horseman recently reported that The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd will also feature the DCU debuts of Heather Kelley and the Newsboy Legion.
Kelley was a Daily Planet reporter and anchor of the show "News Around the World," who was introduced as a potential new love interest for Clark Kent in the pages of Superman.
The Newsboy Legion, meanwhile, goes back much further. They were a team of reformed juvenile delinquents active during World War II. The Guardian, aka Officer Jim Harper, took the youths under his wing and made sure that they stayed on the straight and narrow.
Check out the set photos and video at the links below.
"Between Skyler’s wonderful performance and the fantastic chemistry of the Daily Planet cast, we knew coming out of 'Superman' that this would be a fun world to explore," said DC Studios co-CEOs and TPVGG executive producers James Gunn and Peter Safran.
"We're excited to work with the brilliant Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda to take the audience down some of the darker and funnier streets and alleyways of the DCU as Jimmy spotlights the Metropolis criminal justice system for his docuseries," they added.
Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, showrunners, writers, and executive producers, said: "We’re excited by the challenge of creating a series that feels less like an entry into the DCU and more like an artefact from it. A Daily Planet original documentary made for the people of Metropolis."
"We hope it’ll appeal to fans of the comics, comedy and true crime," they continued. "And while we can’t speak for audiences here yet, we already know it’s a huge hit in Metropolis. They love this series."
Amy Gravitt, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming, Head of HBO & HBO Max Comedy Series, added: "We are thrilled to be working with Tony and Dan, alongside James, Peter, the entire DC team and our colleagues at WBTV, to bring these iconic DCU characters to HBO Max in a new and unexpected way."
"We already know Skyler Gisondo is pitch-perfect as Jimmy Olsen, and we can’t wait for fans to experience Jimmy Tatro’s captivating and hilarious portrayal of Grodd."