Skydance Wants Batman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman Back in Theaters Fast Under DC’s New Boss

DC Studios is starting another new chapter, and Skydance CEO David Ellison reportedly already knows which heroes he wants front and center. With James Gunn and Peter Safran on their way out, the studio’s future is being reshaped around DC’s most recognizable names. A new report suggests the timeline for that shift is anything but slow.

The leadership change happened quickly. It came just 33 days after Skydance took control of DC Studios, and the division will now be overseen by Jeremy Latcham, a former Marvel Studios producer who will serve as president and chief creative officer. Gunn and Safran will remain in their roles until December 1, after which Latcham takes over under Skydance’s leadership.

Now TheWrap reports that Latcham has a clear priority. Insiders told the outlet that Latcham has a mandate from Ellison to get Justice League headliners like Batman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman back on the big screen. And quickly.

The plan reportedly reaches well beyond those 3 heroes. Latcham will be expected to get films for Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash and other heavyweights going in the years ahead. Smaller heroes like Supergirl are reportedly not a priority.

It marks a clear shift from the Gunn era. Outside ‘Superman’ and ‘Lanterns’, Gunn and Safran’s DC Studios released stories focused on second-tier characters like Supergirl, or more obscure ones like Batman villain Clayface. Still, Gunn had recently called Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman the DCU’s “diamond characters”, so he was heading in that direction, just not at the pace Skydance reportedly wants.

“The time will come Diana, and everything will be different.” Watch the explosive, action-packed, ’80s-tinged new trailer for Wonder Woman 1984. #DCFanDome https://t.co/tsXoho7XC2

— IGN (@IGN) August 22, 2020

Batman’s future is one of the biggest questions. The report suggests ‘The Batman: Part II’ may end Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, as Ellison wants DC’s most profitable character firmly back in the DC Universe proper. Nothing has been officially announced about the future of Robert Pattinson’s version of the character.

Wonder Woman’s path looks a little clearer. TheWrap notes that Adria Arjona plays a mystery character in ‘Man of Tomorrow’ that many expect to be revealed as Wonder Woman. Aquaman’s inclusion in Ellison’s priorities is notable too, since the hero hasn’t yet appeared in the DCU.

Not everything Gunn built may be scrapped. TheWrap’s piece suggests Latcham may try to keep Gunn’s cast to avoid repeating the PR nightmare DC experienced when replacing Zack Snyder’s cast. One option the outlet floats is retaining most of the actors Gunn and Safran cast and simply reorienting the slate, fast-tracking Wonder Woman, Batman and The Flash while shelving more ‘Clayface’-style one-offs.

According to IGN, a full reboot hasn’t been decided. That decision ultimately sits with Latcham, who was part of the founding core of Marvel Studios under Kevin Feige and worked on cornerstone films like ‘Iron Man,’ ‘The Avengers’ and Tom Holland’s ‘Spider-Man’ outings.

Vengeance equals justice for both the Bat and the Cat. Watch the new trailer for The Batman now. Only in theaters March 4. #TheBatman https://t.co/lEs00GJZtT

— Warner Bros. (@warnerbros) December 27, 2021

Winning back trust won’t be easy. Fans told TheWrap they no longer trust Skydance leadership, especially after Safran was showcased at a Skydance press event in October while Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz were quietly negotiating with Latcham. Latcham will be in charge of the fifth DC regime since 2013.

Officially, Skydance has stayed upbeat. During a recent earnings call, Ellison and Kreiz pledged to double down on what they described as “our commitment to fans,” though what that means remains unclear as Latcham starts in December.

For now, ‘Man of Tomorrow’ remains the next major test for the franchise. How quickly Batman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman follow could define DC’s next decade on the big screen.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!