Sara Gilbert is expanding her television résumé with a new role in the DC universe, joining HBO Max’s upcoming comedy series The People v. Gorilla Grodd, a spinoff connected to James Gunn’s Superman.
Gilbert is set to portray an “important journalist” in the eight-part series, opposite Skyler Gisondo, who reprises his role as Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen, and Jimmy Tatro, who plays the superintelligent ape Gorilla Grodd.
Details of Gilbert’s character remain under wraps, including the identity of the journalist she will portray.
The series takes the form of a satirical true-crime investigation centred on one of Metropolis’ most notorious murder cases.
In the half-hour comedy, Gorilla Grodd is convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. Years later, Olsen revisits the case and begins investigating whether Grodd was wrongly convicted.
The story is presented as an eight-part “true” crime docuseries, with Olsen attempting to uncover what really happened and determine whether the famous conviction was based on a flawed investigation.
Gilbert’s mystery journalist
While HBO Max and DC Studios have not revealed which journalist Gilbert will play, her character is expected to have a significant role in the fictional investigation.
The producers have also made clear that she will not be playing Lois Lane, who is portrayed in the current DC cinematic universe by Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan.
She will also not be taking over the role of Cat Grant, played in the series by Mikaela Hoover.
Other notable journalists associated with DC stories include Lana Lang, previously portrayed by Annette O’Toole in Superman III, Vesper Fairchild, voiced by Rachel Maddow in Batwoman, and Vicki Vale, the Gotham City reporter played by Kim Basinger in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman.
The identity of Gilbert’s character therefore remains one of the show's details being kept closely guarded.
‘Superman’ stars return
Gilbert joins a cast that combines new performers with several actors returning from Superman.
Beck Bennett will reprise his role as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover returns as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce returns as Perry White.
The new additions include Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds and Tim Baltz.
Gisondo will again play Jimmy Olsen, the Daily Planet reporter introduced in Gunn’s Superman, while Tatro takes on the unusual role of Gorilla Grodd.
The series expands the world established by Gunn's DC projects while taking a markedly different approach from the traditional superhero format.
‘American Vandal’ creators behind the series
The People v. Gorilla Grodd comes from Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the creative team behind Netflix’s acclaimed true-crime satire American Vandal.
Yacenda and Perrault serve as showrunners, writers and executive producers on the new series, with Yacenda directing all eight episodes.
The involvement of the American Vandal creators signals the show's mockumentary and investigative-comedy approach, with the Gorilla Grodd murder case serving as the central mystery.
DC Studios co-chairmen and co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are also executive producers.
The series is produced by DC Studios in association with Warner Bros. Television.
A familiar face returns to television comedy
Gilbert has a long history in television comedy and drama, having first become widely known for her role as Darlene Conner on ABC's Roseanne.
Her performance earned her two Emmy nominations, and she later returned to the character for the show's continuation, The Conners.
Her television credits also include The Big Bang Theory, The Comeback, Bad Teacher and Will & Grace.
Gilbert has also expanded her work behind the camera, serving as an executive producer on The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, the Sony Television/Amazon series, alongside Michael Showalter.
Her recent work includes the Netflix live-action series Scooby-Doo: Origins, which also stars McKenna Grace, André 3000 and Paul Walter Hauser.
Her feature-film credits include 80 for Brady, High Fidelity, Riding in Cars with Boys and Poison Ivy. Her performance in Poison Ivy earned her a supporting actress nomination at the Independent Spirit Awards.
With The People v. Gorilla Grodd, Gilbert now becomes part of a new chapter in the DC universe, one that blends superhero mythology with the conventions of true-crime television and workplace comedy.