The Jimmy Olsen HBO Max Superman spinoff series is officially titled ‘DC Crime’

DC Studios, in collaboration with HBO Max, is developing a new mockumentary-style series titled DC Crime . The series will be presented as a police-style, true-crime docuseries, hosted by Jimmy Olsen (portrayed by Skyler Gisondo in James Gunn’s 2025 Superman ), who takes on the role of an investigative journalist exploring the criminal underworld of the DC Universe. Variety confirmed that the first season will focus on Gorilla Grodd, the iconic villain best known for his battles with The Flash. Notably, Clark Kent and Lois Lane will not feature in the series, giving it a fresh, villain-centered perspective.

DC Crime is designed for multiple seasons, with each season examining a different DC villain. The series is created by Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, the duo behind Netflix’s crime satire American Vandal (2017–2018). They will write, executive produce, and showrun the series, while DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran serve as executive producers. Galen Vaisman oversees production.

The show draws inspiration from Superman lore spanning decades, including both cinematic and television interpretations:

Christopher Reeve Era:

The franchise began with Superman (1978), directed by Richard Donner, with Reeve portraying Clark Kent / Superman. Sequels such as Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983), and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) solidified Superman as a cultural icon.

Henry Cavill / DCEU Era:

Cavill portrayed a modern Superman starting with Man of Steel (2013), followed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), offering a darker and more mature take on the character.

Tyler Hoechlin Television Era:

Hoechlin stars in Superman & Lois (2021–present) on The CW, portraying a family-centered Superman balancing heroism with fatherhood.

David Corenswet / Next-Gen DCU Era:

The upcoming Superman (2025), directed by James Gunn, stars David Corenswet as a younger Superman and is positioned as the cornerstone of the new DC Universe. Warner Bros. has submitted the film to the 2026 Golden Globes in the drama category, with nominations for Best Motion Picture (Drama), David Corenswet (Best Actor), Rachel Brosnahan (Best Supporting Actress), Nicholas Hoult (Best Supporting Actor), as well as Gunn for directing, screenplay, and original song (“The Mighty Crabjoy’s Theme”).

Superman Spinoffs and Literary Adaptations:

The Superman universe has also expanded through comic books and graphic novels derived from the original stories by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Influential works include The Man of Steel (1986), All-Star Superman , and various limited series that reinterpret the character for new generations. These literary spinoffs provide the foundation for storytelling experiments like DC Crime , which explores the world around Superman rather than the hero himself.

With this approach, DC Crime marks a fresh direction for the DC Universe, blending true-crime storytelling with superhero mythology while honoring the character’s rich cinematic, television, and literary legacy.