James Gunn Greenlighting This Show Has Made Me Nervous About the DCU’s Future

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As a huge DC fan, I’ve been really excited about the start of the new DC Universe. The first three projects released over the last year have built a surprisingly cohesive world, and James Gunn deserves a lot of credit for that. Taking the reins of DC Studios with Peter Safran wasn’t without its bumps, but so far, the DCU feels like a win creatively and at the box office. However, I have to admit, that leaked report about a potential Jimmy Olsen spinoff series called ‘DC Crime’ has me a little worried. It’s making me more anxious about where things are headed than I was even before Superman came out!

News about a potential TV series popped up almost simultaneously in several Hollywood industry publications, all citing an anonymous source. The series, tentatively titled “DC Crime,” would star Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and feature other characters from the Daily Planet. Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, known for American Vandal, were set to produce the show as a “true-crime mockumentary.” The main focus of the season would reportedly be the villain Gorilla Grodd. James Gunn addressed the reports online, clarifying some points, but also suggesting that the leaked information wasn’t entirely wrong. While I’m excited about the future of the DC Universe, my first reaction to this leak was worry.

Any Jimmy Olsen Spinoff Needs to Include Clark Kent and Lois Lane, if Not Superman

Characters like Perry White and Jimmy Olsen, who are key parts of the Daily Planet in TV shows, often get little attention in Superman movies. It’s surprising how few of these characters actually appear, and their roles are usually small. They mostly exist to help Lois Lane, and Clark Kent barely interacts with them. Expanding on these characters in a TV series is a smart move, but leaving out Lois Lane, Clark Kent, and Superman himself would be a significant error.

As a huge DC fan, I always loved the dynamic between Jimmy Olsen and Superman in the comics – they were genuinely best friends! But it was a little strange that they didn’t actually share a scene together in the movie. We do see a nice, quick moment of camaraderie when Clark celebrates Jimmy’s article about the Hammer of Boravia, which was cool. Honestly, the film felt a bit rushed, and there just wasn’t space to really establish that Jimmy knows Superman is also around. That’s why I’m hoping a future spinoff series will finally show DCU fans that Jimmy and Superman actually know each other – it feels like a crucial piece of their relationship that’s been missing.

It’s possible the rumor about David Corenswet and Rachael Brosnahan not being in the Jimmy Olsen show is intentionally misleading. James Gunn previously kept Nicholas Hoult’s appearance as Lex Luthor a secret – he even withheld the final episodes from critics! I’m hoping this situation is similar, because fans of the DC Universe really want to see Clark Kent interact with these actors.

The ‘DC Crime’ Concept Is Intriguing, but the Leaked Specifics Are Concerning

A fictional true-crime series could be a fantastic addition to the DC Universe. While some viewers enjoy shows without needing to know every detail, dedicated DC fans might appreciate a series that delves deeper into the background stories and world-building hinted at in shows like Lanterns or Supergirl. Ideally, this would be an anthology, focusing on a different character each episode, instead of dedicating a whole season to a single villain like Gorilla Grodd.

Now that Peacemaker has opened the door to adapting Salvation Run, the DCU needs to populate its extra-dimensional prison planet with inmates. Series like Lanterns or Creature Commandos could easily end with various metahumans being sent through that A.R.G.U.S. portal. But a dedicated ‘DC Crime’ series, focused on captured metahumans and ‘monsters,’ would be a natural fit. Introducing these characters in projects like Man of Tomorrow or future installments would give fans a pre-existing connection to them, enhancing their impact.

Gorilla Grodd’s appearance creates a challenge for the DC Universe, at least for the foreseeable future. While another super-powered individual might eventually defeat him, it’s hard to imagine how. Surprisingly, even Jimmy Olsen and the other reporters at the Daily Planet could potentially be involved in stopping him.

The show might actually be about exploring Grodd’s backstory as he continues to be a threat. However, no matter how the writers choose to develop the story, it could come across as overly complicated, especially compared to a simpler introduction of the villain and the heroes who might try to stop him.

Peacemaker, The Penguin and Creature Commandos Beat the Odds, Can Jimmy Olsen?

In James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker was one of several obscure DC Comics characters included in the team. The director and writer were so pleased with John Cena’s portrayal of the character that they added a scene after the credits to reveal Peacemaker had actually survived his shootout with Bloodsport.

Look, the first season of Peacemaker really blew everyone away, and James Gunn somehow managed to make this deeply flawed character a genuine star – even in the comics! It was a total surprise, going against everything people expected. Honestly, you could argue Jimmy Olsen has a clearer backstory than Peacemaker does. But the big question now is: can Gunn pull off another unexpected hit like this? It’s a tough act to follow.

When news came out about a show focusing on Colin Farrell’s character from The Batman, many fans were doubtful. The show proved to be a success, receiving high praise from critics. However, it told its story in a much more serious and dramatic way than the upcoming Jimmy Olsen spin-off appears to be aiming for.

Despite strong storytelling, many viewers questioned why Batman wasn’t involved in the events of the show. The Penguin justified leaving out the main hero by focusing the drama on Oz Cobb and his version of Gotham. However, shows like The Penguin and Peacemaker proved successful even though they were unconventional, suggesting a series centered on Gorilla Grodd could also succeed despite being a risky idea.

The success of the DC Universe relies heavily on the Lanterns, not only because their concept is fresh and different, but also because the Green Lanterns are such well-known characters. While shows like Peacemaker and Creature Commandos were unexpected ways to start a new universe, they ultimately proved effective. However, the DCU also needs to feature more classic stories centered around its most popular heroes.

A Jimmy Olsen series is an interesting concept, but it’s also a gamble. It could enrich the overall story and develop the villains more fully. However, it seems to have a tougher challenge ahead of it than other spin-offs, at least based on what we’ve seen so far.

DC Studios Should Keep Better Control of Information About Its Future

Because the initial reports about this series were labeled with the wrong title, “DC Crime,” we should question the accuracy of all the details. As James Gunn pointed out, the information might not actually be incorrect, just mislabeled.

This show is still being developed, so details are changing frequently and there are currently a lot of inaccuracies floating around. However, the recent, well-timed leaks about a potential Jimmy Olsen spin-off suggest that James Gunn and his team need to improve how they manage information and prevent these kinds of disclosures.

While any issues with the upcoming Jimmy Olsen show in the DC Universe could be worked out during its creation, these early leaks might shape public opinion before the show’s creators have even fully developed their vision.

Exciting news naturally grabs people’s interest. However, when information about upcoming projects is revealed too early, it can create issues with what fans expect and how they react.

Fans are grateful when James Gunn corrects inaccurate casting news or rumors. However, his recent comment that the upcoming Jimmy Olsen show won’t be called “DC Crime” is confusing and raises more questions than it answers. If DC Studios is struggling to keep secrets, it might be best for Gunn and his team to simply ignore these kinds of reports in the future.

If the Jimmy Olsen spin-off isn’t announced soon, it might not live up to what fans are hoping for. There’s even a chance people have already lost interest in it.

The new Jimmy Olsen show isn’t planned to arrive until 2027. The Supergirl movie is scheduled for release on June 26, 2026, and Lanterns and the second season of Creature Commandos are expected to come out after that.

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2025-11-29 20:09