DC Studios Shake-Up: James Gunn and Peter Safran Are Out, and a Marvel Insider Is Taking Over
The DC Universe is heading into another new era. James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios in late 2022, when Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav created a dedicated DC label modeled on Disney’s structure for Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm and Pixar.
Their task was to bring DC’s films, TV and animation together under one creative vision and turn the brand into a real competitor to the MCU. After Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, now operating under the Skydance name, reports in October said the pair had been invited to stay following a meeting with new boss David Ellison.
That plan has now changed. Gunn and Safran are stepping down as co-heads of DC Studios, and former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham has been named the studio’s new president and chief creative officer.
According to Skydance, Gunn and Safran will return to their creative work full time. That includes post-production on ‘Man of Tomorrow’, the sequel to ‘Superman’, which Gunn has been directing and which is set for release on July 9, 2027.
In a joint statement, the pair said they were proud of what they accomplished, including putting Superman back at the center of DC. They thanked the actors, crews, and executives they worked with, and said they’re looking forward to focusing on the stories that drew them to the job in the first place, including Clark and Lex’s next chapter.
Ellison and Skydance Co-CEO Ynon Kreiz praised Gunn and Safran for launching a new era for DC and leading it through a period of real transformation. They added that they expect a smooth, collaborative transition.
Latcham comes with deep superhero experience. He was part of Marvel Studios’ founding core under Kevin Feige, working on ‘Iron Man’, ‘The Avengers’ and Tom Holland’s ‘Spider-Man’ films.
He also has a long history with Gunn, having worked with him on the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ trilogy. Gunn and Safran gave Latcham their blessing, citing their shared history at Marvel.
At DC, Latcham will oversee the full film, TV and animation slate, including creative development, production, talent and strategy. He will report to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of the Skydance Motion Picture Group, and said he sees leading DC’s iconic characters as a responsibility he takes very seriously.
Gunn and Safran released 3 theatrical films during their time in charge. ‘Superman’ was the clear success, earning $618 million worldwide along with strong reviews. The results after that were less consistent. ‘Supergirl’ underperformed this summer with $126.4 million, while ‘Clayface’, a lower-budget horror film about the Batman villain, has earned $109 million through 3 weekends.
The final trailer for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’ has been released. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/ecTMB97Sto
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 24, 2026
On television, the duo had more consistent wins with ‘Peacemaker’, ‘Creature Commandos’ and ‘Lanterns’. Still, IndieWire noted that their push to make DC a true rival to the MCU has had mixed success overall.
The leadership change raises big questions about the future of the connected universe Gunn and Safran have spent 4 years building. For now, Skydance has said it remains committed to DC, and the pair will continue shaping ‘Man of Tomorrow’ while Latcham takes over day-to-day decisions.
Since Latcham has worked closely with Gunn for years, fans may see more continuity than a typical studio shake-up would bring. How much of the current DCU plan he keeps, and what he changes, will become clearer as he settles into the role.
What do you think about James Gunn and Peter Safran stepping down from DC Studios?
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