THE FLASH Rumored to Make His DCU Debut in THE PEOPLE VS. GORILLA GRODD

The DCU might be getting its Scarlet Speedster sooner than expected, and his first appearance could happen in one of the more interesting and unique DC projects currently in development.

According to a new rumor, Barry Allen's Flash could make his debut in HBO Max's upcoming comedy mockumentary series The People vs. Gorilla Grodd.

While it might be considered an unexpected place to introduce one of DC's biggest superheroes, considering the history between The Flash and Gorilla Grodd in the comics, it could actually make sense.

The series has already raised some eyebrows among DC fans. With projects like Paradise Lost and Booster Gold still waiting to arrive, some are questioning why a Gorilla Grodd true-crime comedy is getting the spotlight following Man of Tomorrow.

Things got even more interesting when footage from the set showed Grodd singing and dancing. That's quite a departure from the terrifying, superintelligent villain comic book fans know, especially after Creature Commandos showed him conquering Earth alongside Circe in a possible future.

However, the series could explore how Grodd eventually becomes that dangerous villain, and bringing The Flash into the story would be a pretty cool way to make that happen.

According to scooper James Mack, there's a "100%" chance that The Flash will appear in The People vs. Gorilla Grodd. The claim follows earlier rumors suggesting Barry Allen will also be referenced in Man of Tomorrow.

Of course, that's a pretty confident claim from a source who has been hit and miss on his on his reporting, so it's worth taking this information with a grain of salt.

If The Flash does appear, there are several interesting ways the series could introduce him. We might see footage of an earlier confrontation between Barry and Grodd, or perhaps the speedster could be called to testify during the investigation into Grodd's criminal past.

The show could even give us a brief glimpse of a red blur racing through Metropolis. That would be enough to establish The Flash's existence in the DCU without making him a major part of the story.

There's also the question of which Flash we'll eventually see leading the DCU's superhero adventures. Ezra Miller's return seems extremely unlikely, which means the DCU has an opportunity to introduce a completely new version of the character.

With Lanterns already exploring experienced superheroes, it's possible Barry Allen could be an established hero in this universe, potentially opening the door for Wally West to eventually take over as the DCU's primary Flash.

As for The People vs. Gorilla Grodd, the eight-episode Max Original comedy follows Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen as he investigates one of Metropolis' most infamous murder cases.

Grodd has been convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City, but Jimmy decides to reopen the case to determine whether the superintelligent ape was actually responsible for the crime.

The series will take the form of a true-crime documentary, which should make for a pretty entertaining approach to one of DC Comics' most dangerous villains.

Skyler Gisondo reprises his role as Jimmy Olsen, with Jimmy Tatro playing Gorilla Grodd. Several familiar faces from Superman are also returning, including Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.

Tony Yacenda and Perrault are serving as showrunners, writers, and executive producers, with Yacenda directing all eight episodes. Gunn and Peter Safran are also executive producing.

The People vs. Gorilla Grodd is expected to premiere on HBO Max sometime in 2027 or 2028, although an official release date hasn't been announced.

While The Flash's involvement remains unconfirmed, introducing the Scarlet Speedster through a Gorilla Grodd murder investigation would be a fun and unusual way to bring the character into Gunn's DCU.

What do you think? Would you like to see Barry Allen introduced in The People vs. Gorilla Grodd, or should DC save The Flash's debut for a bigger project?