‘Legends Of Tomorrow’ Spoilers: EP Talks Gorilla Grodd’s Addition To The Show

“Legends of Tomorrow” executive producer Marc Guggenheim revealed that the decision to bring Gorilla Grodd to Season 3 of the CW series is part of their plan to further diversify the show.

“[The idea to add Grodd to the show] was really born out of, we did the Legion of Doom last year and that was a lot of fun, but at the same time, we were very cognizant of the fact that we had three white men,” Guggenheim told Collider at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. “And then, when we added evil Rip (Arthur Darvill), it was four, and when we added Snart (Wentworth Miller), it was five white men. So, really, at the top of our list was some diversity.”

Guggenheim went on to say that the idea to bring Grodd to the show actually started off as a mere joke. “We had this crazy idea, ‘Well, who’s to say that all the villains even have to be human?!’ It started off, as most Legends ideas start off, as a joke,” the producer said.

“And then, as often happens, the joke starts to take root and we start to think that the joke has an interesting idea behind it. We like the ambition of the idea, and Grodd is a fan favorite villain. We started to look at it from the standpoint of story, and from a story standpoint, he’s such an interesting character, who cares that he’s CG?”

READ: Which “Spartacus” alum has joined the cast of “Legends of Tomorrow” Season 3?

Guggenheim’s fellow executive producer Phil Klemmer in a separate interview with IGN at the Television Critics Association summer press tour that a “non-human entity” is going to recruit Grodd to go against the Legends next season. Klemmer revealed that the version of Grodd that will appear on the show is something that viewers haven’t seen yet even on “The Flash.”

“It will be the most evolved and powerful form of Grodd,” Klemmer teased of the post-Gorilla City version of the psychic ape.

Klemmer added that Grodd’s sympathetic and sad plight will be further explored during the character’s stint on “Legends of Tomorrow,” noting that at least one of the Legends will “take the bait” for Grodd’s side of things.

Klemmer didn’t reveal the identity of the “non-human entity” that employs Grodd’s help, but the exec producer did say that viewers will hear the character’s name in the Season 3 premiere.

In addition to Grodd, other characters that will be recruited by the mystery supernatural character include former Legion of Doom member Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough) and Amaya’s (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) granddaughter Kuasa (Tracy Ifeachor).

“Legends of Tomorrow” Season 3 premieres on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 9 p.m. EST on The CW.