DC Studios is developing Get Jiro, an animated action series based on a graphic novel by Anthony Bourdain and Joel Rose. The show is slated to premiere on Adult Swim's Toonami block on October 3, 2026.
James Gunn's move beyond superheroes with Get Jiro
DC Studios is actively diversifying its creative portfolio under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran. While the studio is heavily invested in the upcoming 2025 release of Superman and the 2026 debut of Supergirl, the development of Get Jiro signals a pivot toward more experimental, mature storytelling. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, this move is part of a broader strategy to build a multi-faceted DC Universe that extends beyond traditional caped crusaders into animation and television.
This expansion mirrors a trend of "genre-bending" within major studios, where established IP is used as a springboard for niche aesthetics. By integrating Get Jiro alongside projects like The Batman Part II and Clayface, DC Studios is attempting to prove it can handle dark comedy and cyberpunk as effectively as it handles the Man of Steel.
A dystopian city where traditional cooking is banned
The narrative of Get Jiro is rooted in the 2012 DC Comics/Vertigo graphic novel written by the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and Joel Rose, with art by Langdon Foss. The story takes place in a futuristic, dystopian society where traditional cooking has been outlawed. In this oppressive environment,a mysterious sushi chef named Jiro emerges as both a folk hero and a lethal assassin, battling rival culinary factions and gangsters.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series will blend cyberpunk aesthetics with the gritty tone of samurai films and spaghetti westerns. The production aims to capture the "ultra-violence" and dark humor of the original source material, positioning the show as a provocative addition to the late-night Adult Swim schedule.
Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka's shift to cyberpunk
The adaptation is being steered by showrunners and executive producers Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka . The duo is perhaps best known for their work on the comedy series Superstore and for co-writing the A24 film Sharper. Their transition from workplace comedy and psychological thrillers to a "slice-and-dice" animated action series suggests a desire to explore more stylized, hyper-violent content.
The series will be produced by Warner Bros. Animation and is schdeuled to premiere at midnight on October 3, 2026. Following its debut on the Toonami block, episodes will be available for streaming on HBO Max the following day,accompanied by a "bloody first trailer" to set the tone for the audience.
The $110 billion Paramount Skydance shadow over Warner Bros. Discovery
This creative expansion comes at a time of significant corporate volatility for the parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. the studio is currently under intense scrutiny due to a proposed $110 billion takeover bid by Paramount Skydance. While the legal and financial complexities of such a merger are ongoing, the studio has continued to push forward with high-profile releases like Mortal Kombat II and Coyote vs. Acme.
The decision to greenlight experimental projects like Get Jiro during a period of corporate instability suggests that James Gunn's creative team has significant autonomy. It indicates a strategy of maintaining a high volume of diverse content to keep the studio attractive to potential buyers or to stabilize its market position though varied audience engagement.
The missing voice cast for Jiro
Despite the concrete premiere date and production team, several key details remain unconfirmed. Most notably, the voice cast for Get Jiro has not been publicly announced, although the project is reportedly in the active casting phase. It remains unclear who will voice the titular sushi chef or the various rival culinary factions that populate the dystopian city.
Additionally, while the report highlights the influence of the original graphic novel, it does not specify how much of the 2012 plot will be adapted verbatim versus how much will be expanded for a multi-episode series format. The production has yet to clarify if any other contributors from the original Vertigo run will be involved in the creative process.
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