DC Studios Just Dropped a Bombshell! James Gunn and Peter Safran Are OUT, Marvel's Jeremy Latcham Takes Charge

Well, this is absolutely insane! In a move I did not see coming, James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-CEOs and chairmen of DC Studios after four years, with former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham taking over as President and Chief Creative Officer.

Gunn and Safran barely got their new DC Universe off the ground, and now the studio is going through another massive leadership change. I was not expecting this at all, and as someone who just wants to see DC movies succeed, it's incredibly frustrating. Can this franchise catch a break!?

The good news is that Gunn and Safran aren't abandoning DC entirely. Both will return to full-time creative work and continue producing various DC projects. They're currently in post-production on the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, so at least that project is still moving forward.

Latcham officially takes over on December 1 and will report to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein. He'll oversee DC Studios' film, television, and animation projects, including creative development, production, talent, and overall strategy.

He's certainly got the superhero experience for the job. As Marvel's former Senior Vice President of Production and Development, Latcham helped guide major MCU franchises, including Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, and The Avengers. He also previously worked with Gunn on Guardians of the Galaxy, so the two already have a working relationship.

The announcement comes as DC's new parent company, Skydance, reports its third-quarter earnings, bringing another major change to a studio that has spent years trying to establish a consistent direction.

Gunn and Safran were originally brought in by former Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who wanted DC to build a connected entertainment universe capable of competing with Marvel. The plan involved movies, television, animation, and video games, all operating under a unified creative vision.

At the time, DC was struggling to find its footing following the Zack Snyder era, and Gunn seemed like an exciting choice to turn things around. Hiring an active filmmaker to run a major studio was unusual, but Gunn's experience with Marvel and his understanding of comic book characters made him an interesting fit. Safran, whose producing credits include The Conjuring franchise, brought the business and production experience.

Their time running DC Studios delivered some notable successes, including Matt Reeves' nine-time Emmy-winning HBO series The Penguin, a spinoff of The Batman starring Colin Farrell.

They also oversaw two seasons of Peacemaker, featuring John Cena reprising his role from Gunn's The Suicide Squad, along with the animated series Creature Commandos.

Gunn's Superman reboot brought the Man of Steel back to theaters and earned $618.7 million worldwide. The HBO Max series Lanterns also proved successful with viewers, while the lower-budget Clayface, produced for a net $44 million, topped the worldwide box office for two consecutive weeks and has reached $109 million globally.

Of course, not everything worked. The Craig Gillespie-directed Supergirl was a major disappointment, grossing just $126.4 million worldwide against a net production budget of $186 million.

Despite drawing inspiration from a graphic novel with a True Grit-style story, the movie struggled to connect with audiences, with some fans comparing its approach to Mad Max and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Still, one major box office miss doesn't seem like enough reason to completely change leadership, especially when Gunn and Safran were only beginning to establish their larger DC Universe.

There's also plenty already in development. Reeves' The Batman: Part II is being finished in London by Steven Soderbergh, while the eight-episode HBO Max series The People v. Gorilla Grodd has completed filming ahead of its planned 2027 release. That series stars Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, with Gunn and Safran serving as executive producers.

Other projects that have been discussed include a Swamp Thing movie involving James Mangold and Waller, a Peacemaker spinoff starring Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

Now the big question is how much of Gunn and Safran's original DC Universe plan will survive this leadership change. Skydance Chairman and CEO David Ellison and Co-CEO Ynon Kreiz addressed the transition in a joint statement:

“James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation, resetting the foundation and building a slate we’re incredibly proud of. We’re grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand.

“Jeremy has been a longtime creative partner to both, and we have complete confidence that James and Peter will ensure a smooth, collaborative transition and continue this work with care. We look forward to working with Jeremy to build the next generation of DC storytelling and to doubling down on our commitment to fans.”

Gunn and Safran also released a statement reflecting on their four years running DC and their decision to return to filmmaking:

“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.”

Goldberg and Greenstein expressed their confidence in Latcham's ability to guide DC Studios forward: “Jeremy brings a deep reverence for DC and its passionate fanbase, recognizing that they are the very foundation of this storied, multigenerational brand.

“Under his leadership, every film and television show will be ushered from start to finish through the prism of the legions of fans who love and champion it. Jeremy’s track record exemplifies the excellence he will bring to building out DC and the many beloved characters within it.”

Latcham also shared his excitement about taking charge of one of entertainment's biggest collections of comic book characters:

“DC’s pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture. I’ve had the privilege to help bring some of the most celebrated superhero stories to life on the big screen, and I’m excited and honored for the opportunity to now lead DC Studios into its next era.

“The chance to steward the incredible cast of DC characters to the screen in a way that excites lifelong fans while introducing their timeless stories to the next generation is a massive responsibility that I do not take lightly,” said Latcham. “I am grateful to Dana and Josh for putting their trust in me.

“I can’t wait to work night and day alongside filmmakers, comic book creators, artists and storytellers of every kind, across film, television and animation, to build something ambitious for longtime DC fans and newcomers alike.”

Look, Latcham has an impressive résumé, and his experience helping build the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes him a perfectly reasonable choice to lead DC. I have nothing against the guy, and he could end up doing an awesome job.

But I still can't believe this is happening! DC has spent years changing direction, replacing leadership, abandoning plans, and trying to figure out what its cinematic universe should look like. Gunn and Safran were supposed to be the people who finally brought some stability to the franchise, and they barely got started.

Now we're looking at another major change, and nobody knows exactly what it means for the future of DC movies and television.

Will Latcham stick with the roadmap Gunn and Safran created? Will certain movies and shows be reworked or canceled? Could DC eventually find itself going through another creative reset?

The fact that Gunn and Safran are staying involved creatively, along with Latcham's existing relationship with Gunn, offers some reassurance that the studio won't simply throw everything out and start over.

But damn, this is madness! I was excited to see Gunn's DC Universe develop over the next several years, and I hate that we're already having to question its future.

DC has an incredible collection of characters and stories, and all I want is for the studio to commit to a vision long enough to see what it can become.

What do you think about Gunn and Safran stepping down? Are you excited to see what Jeremy Latcham brings to DC Studios, or are you just as frustrated by this completely unexpected shakeup as I am?

Source: Deadline