DC is expanding its cinematic universe with a new series centered on one of Superman's most brilliant allies. According to recent reports, the upcoming Mr. Terrific spin-off has found its writer in a seasoned superhero storyteller: Allan Heinberg, the showrunner of Netflix's The Sandman.
Heinberg, a veteran of TV hits like The O.C., Grey's Anatomy, and Sex and the City, will pen the pilot for the series. His superhero credentials are equally impressive: he wrote the screenplay for 2017's Wonder Woman, contributed to Wonder Woman and Justice League comics, and co-created the Young Avengers for Marvel. Most recently, he served as an executive producer and writer on Netflix's acclaimed adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman.
Who Is Mr. Terrific?
The character making the leap to his own show is Michael Holt, the second Mr. Terrific. The original was Terry Sloane, a Golden Age hero from the 1940s who fought crime with his vast talents and a motto of "fair play." Sloane was a reserve member of the Justice Society of America before being killed by his nemesis, the Spirit King.
Michael Holt debuted in 1997's Spectre #54, created by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake. A brilliant scientist, Holt was nearly driven to suicide after the death of his wife and unborn child. Inspired by the ghostly Spectre's tale of the original Mr. Terrific, he took up the mantle, armed with high-tech gadgets and vehicles. In the 2025 Superman film, Edi Gathegi portrayed Holt as a member of the Justice Gang alongside Green Lantern and Hawkgirl. He was the only one who took Lois Lane's concerns about Lex Luthor seriously, helping rescue Superman from an interdimensional prison. Holt is also set to return in next year's sequel, Man of Tomorrow.
Expanding the DC Universe
The Mr. Terrific series is just one of several projects spinning off from the new Superman film. Another show, DC Crime, will follow Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) as he teams up with some of DC's deadliest villains, including Gorilla Grodd in its first season.
While Supergirl may not have met expectations at the box office, the DC Universe is clearly investing in its smaller-screen future. The Mr. Terrific series is in active development, though no release date has been announced. Fans can also look forward to other DC projects, such as the Powerpuff Girls reboot movie and the My Adventures With Superman Season 4 update.
With Heinberg's blend of TV drama and superhero expertise, Mr. Terrific promises to be a smart, character-driven addition to the DC canon. Stay tuned for more updates as the series develops.
