James Gunn Breaks Silence on Theatrical Releases After Warner Bros–Netflix Merger News

DC Studios chiefs Peter Safran and James Gunn are moving fast on their long-term plan for the DC Universe. Their new slate began this summer with a fresh Superman movie, but that’s only the start.

Several major projects are lined up, including new films for Supergirl and Clayface, sequels to Superman and The Batman planned for 2027, and more shows tied to the growing DC world. Gunn is set to begin filming his Superman movie in April, while Matt Reeves will begin production on the next Batman film in May.

Safran told Bloomberg that he and Gunn want to rebuild DC into a top-tier brand again. He said their goal from day one has been to bring the characters back to the level they believe they should be at, adding that they are still early in the process and have many more ideas to explore.

James Gunn says theatrical releases are “incredibly important” for DC after the Warner Bros & Netflix merger news “The communal theatrical experience is something that is incredibly important & remarkably well suited to our big spectacle films”

This push for a stronger DC universe becomes even more significant after Netflix announced that it will buy the film and TV operations of Warner Bros. Discovery, the company that owns DC. The deal, valued at about $82.7 billion, gives Netflix control of DC’s film and TV library as well as HBO’s content.

Industry analysts say the DC brand is one of the most valuable parts of the deal. Rich Greenfield of LightShed Partners said DC has huge potential and has not yet reached the level of success that Marvel achieved under Disney. He believes the franchise has been underused for years and that Netflix’s involvement could unlock new growth.

With multiple films, spin-offs, and series already in development, DC is preparing for one of its biggest rebuilds in decades. Safran and Gunn appear confident that the new direction will finally give the characters the spotlight they’ve been missing.

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