James Gunn and Peter Safran Step Down From DC Studios

In a surprising move behind the scenes in Hollywood, James Gunn and Peter Safran will step down from their roles as co-CEOs of DC Studios on December 1st. Their departure comes four years after they took the helm of the division.

According to The Hollywood Reporter , Skydance, which controls the division after acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, has chosen Jeremy Latcham, a former Marvel executive, as the studio's new president and chief creative officer. This news is completely unexpected, as Gunn and Safran were recently appointed to lead the newly formed Skydance.

Latcham will be responsible for leading DC's film, television, and animation productions, overseeing creative decisions, production, casting, and studio strategy. He began working at Marvel in 2004 and rose to the position of senior vice president of production and development, participating in films such as Iron Man, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. 

The departure represents a major turning point for the future of DC, as Gunn and Safran were at the forefront of building the new DC Universe (DCU), planned to integrate films and series into a single continuity.

During their tenure, the duo launched Superman, Supergirl, and Clayface, as well as series like The Penguin, Peacemaker, and Green Lanterns. The change is particularly noteworthy because, in recent weeks, they had presented their plans for the future of DC to Skydance president David Ellison, who, according to sources cited by the publication, had shown support for the continuation of their work.

Despite stepping down from executive leadership, Gunn and Safran will remain creatively involved in some projects. Gunn is working on the post-production of Man of Tomorrow, the Superman sequel scheduled for 2027, and the series The People v. Gorilla Grodd. They will also remain as producers of The Batman: Part II, scheduled for 2028.

In a statement regarding the end of their leadership, the filmmakers highlighted the work done and their anticipation for Latcham's arrival:

“Four years ago, we set out to unite DC under one creative vision. In that time, we helped restore Superman to the heart of DC, while opening new doors and telling new stories in film and television with Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface. We’re immensely proud of the team that turned that ambition into something real, including the actors, crews and executives we had the opportunity to collaborate with. We’ve shared a creative history with Jeremy going back to Marvel, and we’re eager to see the perspective he brings to DC’s next chapter. We’re excited to return to what drew us to this job in the first place, which is telling the stories we love, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s journey in Man of Tomorrow.”