James Gunn and Peter Safran Reportedly Survive the Paramount Shake-Up, but Their DC Future Isn’t Locked in Yet
When Warner Bros. and Paramount agreed to merge, DC fans had one big question: what happens to the DC Universe? James Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as co-chairs and co-CEOs of the newly formed DC Studios at the end of October 2022, and they’ve spent the years since building a brand-new shared universe from the ground up. That vision kicked off on the big screen with 2025’s ‘Superman’.
The pair’s future has been a hot topic throughout the merger process. Back in August, an insider told TheWrap that Paramount had no plans to replace them, while DC Studios executive producer Lars P. Winther said Paramount CEO David Ellison had met with the duo. Bloomberg also reported last year that Ellison wanted to keep the creative teams of both studios intact.
Now, the clearest signal yet has arrived. According to Puck’s Matthew Belloni, as shared by Culture Crave, Gunn and Safran will reportedly be invited to stay on and run DC Studios after the merger, at least initially.
That puts them in a very different position from Warner Bros.’ film chiefs. Belloni also reports that Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy will not be part of the merged company, with Paramount Pictures co-chairs Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg set to oversee both studios. Paramount is not commenting, and leadership moves are expected to be announced early next week ahead of Tuesday’s merger close.
That qualifier has fans reading between the lines. Cosmic Book News reported that its insiders say Gunn’s current contract expires in 2027, right after ‘Man of Tomorrow’, with no new extension in place. Those same insiders expect a honeymoon period of 3 to 6 months at the merged company before any changes arrive.
Netflix Junkie noted that Gunn’s long-term future now rests with Greenstein and Goldberg. For now, though, Paramount appears ready to inherit the DC Universe that Gunn and Safran have spent years constructing rather than starting over.
New trailer for ‘Clayface’
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) July 22, 2026
In theaters on October 23 pic.twitter.com/QHWw9bnvev
The next few releases could decide how long the arrangement lasts. ‘Clayface’ arrives on October 23 as the final DCU release of 2026, with a reported budget of around $40 million. Directed by James Watkins from a script by Mike Flanagan, the R-rated horror film stars Tom Rhys Harries as an actor whose face is disfigured and Naomie Ackie as the scientist he turns to for help.
After that comes Gunn’s own ‘Man of Tomorrow’ on July 9, 2027, followed by Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman: Part II’ on October 1, 2027. One analysis has called ‘Man of Tomorrow’ the make-or-break moment for the duo, arguing that if it outgrosses ‘Superman’, Paramount would have every reason to keep them aboard.
The duo’s recent record is mixed. ‘Supergirl’ disappointed this year, but HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ has generated plenty of positive buzz and strong viewership numbers. That kind of momentum on the streaming side could work in their favor as Paramount evaluates its new assets.
Further down the road, the slate also includes the animated ‘Dynamic Duo’, set for June 30, 2028. Whether Gunn and Safran are still in charge by then remains one of the biggest open questions in Hollywood. For now, DC fans can breathe a little easier. The creative team behind the DCU is staying put, even if the long-term picture is still coming into focus.
Do you want James Gunn and Peter Safran to keep running DC Studios?
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
