The much-anticipated James Gunn reboot of Superman has just hit theaters, but talk is already swirling about two potential DC spin-off series centered around two breakout characters from the blockbuster: Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen and Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Gunn, who is also the co-CEO of DC Studios, is eyeing both spin-offs as part of a broader strategy to release two live-action films and multiple HBO Max series per year, aiming to reintroduce DC’s core heroes ahead of a new Justice League movie.
Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen, a plucky reporter and photographer from The Daily Planet, quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his awkward charm and surprise romantic appeal. Although he does make multiple appearances in the comics, Jimmy also has a starring role in the spin-off comic book series, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen. A more modern run of the series, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen?, sees the photographer touring the “bizarre underbelly” of the DC Universe.
Meanwhile, Gathegi’s portrayal of Mister Terrific stood out as a scene-stealer in Superman. As the third-smartest man in the world, Mister Terrific has the ability to control “T-spheres,” devices that render him invincible to technology. In Gunn’s Superman, Mister Terrific is a member of the so-called “Justice Gang”, alongside Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern and Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl.
Although both of these characters may seem new to audiences unfamiliar with the DC Universe’s comic book lore, Gunn has a habit of bringing beloved comic book characters out of obscurity. The characters of Guardians of the Galaxy were relatively unknown to viewers compared to The Avengers before Gunn built a whole Marvel franchise around them. His Suicide Squad, on the other hand, featured deep-cut characters like the Polka-Dot Man, Ratcatcher 2, and Peacemaker, a character who eventually got his own HBO Max series, which is, according to Gunn himself, “the favorite thing that he’s ever done.”
