New DC Studios Boss Jeremy Latcham Wants Superhero Movies His Grandma Would Like, but Is That What DC Needs?
DC Studios is getting a new boss, and his approach to superhero movies might have some fans worried about where the DC Universe is headed.
Jeremy Latcham, the former Marvel Studios executive taking over for James Gunn and Peter Safran, once explained that he used his grandmother's tastes as a way to judge whether Marvel's movies would connect with everyday audiences. That's a perfectly fine way to approach certain stories, but DC fans might have some concerns.
Following the news that Gunn and Safran are out as DC Studios co-CEOs, Skydance's David Ellison has brought in Latcham to oversee DC's film, television, and animation projects. He'll be responsible for the studio's creative direction, production, talent, and overall strategy.
Latcham certainly has the superhero experience for the job. He helped bring some of Marvel's biggest hits to the screen, including Iron Man, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. That's an impressive résumé, but making Marvel movies and understanding what makes DC special aren't necessarily the same thing.
In a statement announcing his new role, Latcham said: "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."
Ellison also welcomed Latcham while acknowledging the work Gunn and Safran accomplished during their time at the studio:
"We’re thrilled to welcome Jeremy to DC Studios! As part of the founding team behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he helped define the modern superhero movie and powered some of the biggest, most beloved comic book adaptations of our time. We can’t wait to see the stories he’ll bring to life, and how he’ll help build the future of DC for fans everywhere.
James and Peter began a new era for DC Studios, guiding it through a major transformation and bringing audiences fresh chapters of beloved stories, including Superman, Lanterns and Creature Commandos. We’re grateful for the passion and care they brought to this work, and for the lasting mark they’ve left on DC."
While fans are still processing the leadership shakeup, a resurfaced interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network has offered some insight into Latcham's philosophy when it comes to making superhero movies.
During the conversation, Latcham explained how his grandmother became something of a measuring stick for the stories he helped develop at Marvel.
“Even at Marvel, like if you read the the History of Marvel book or whatever, there’s like this bit about my grandparents in there because when we were making the first Marvel movies, I’d always be like, ‘I don’t know if my grandma would like that, you know?’
“And that became like a guiding light of like as we were developing the movies, I just had this sense of, ‘I don’t know if my grandma would like that,’ and that became the stand-in [to determine if a movie] is going to work for regular people that are outside of the bubble of Hollywood. What does this [movie] say for a regular family?”
Latcham also shared a story about how the original Iron Man connected with his grandmother in a way he hadn't expected.
“In 2008, Marvel Studios made our first film, a small film called Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The Monday after it came out, my grandmother called me from Perkins, Oklahoma, and she said, ‘Honey, the sermon on Sunday was about Iron Man. It was about a story of redemption and how we can all relate to that.’
“It was at that moment that I knew we’d done something that resonated around the world, that my grandmother in Perkins, Oklahoma, a town of 5,000 people, could feel the story of redemption that traveled around the world and that we could all be lifted up by heroes. I think we kept that with us at Marvel, and hopefully, we’ll keep it with us for a long time as we continue making movies.”
There's nothing wrong with wanting superhero stories to connect with people outside the comic book crowd. That's a big part of what made the early Marvel Cinematic Universe so successful. But using your grandma as a filter for what makes a good superhero movie isn't exactly the creative philosophy I'd want guiding the entire DC Universe.
Some of DC's greatest stories are dark, disturbing, violent, and morally complicated. Those elements aren't problems that need to be fixed. They're part of what makes those stories so damn good.
There are so many dark DC stories that clearly aren’t designed to make everyone comfortable, and they shouldn't have to be. DC has an incredible collection of characters and stories that explore the uglier sides of humanity, and watering them down to appeal to the widest possible audience would be a huge mistake.
It's also difficult to imagine Latcham's grandmother test working particularly well for something like Peacemaker Season 2, which embraces adult humor, violence, and outrageous situations. That doesn't mean Latcham plans to eliminate mature content from DC Studios, but his comments raise fair questions about how much creative freedom filmmakers will have under his leadership.
Of course, there's a difference between making a movie accessible and making it family-friendly. Latcham's comments appear to be more about finding universal themes that connect with audiences than avoiding mature material altogether. Hopefully, that's the philosophy he brings to DC.
Not every DC movie needs to be dark and gritty, either. Superman should inspire hope, Batman can explore the darker corners of Gotham, and characters like Peacemaker should be allowed to get completely ridiculous. The appeal of DC is that its universe can support all of those approaches without forcing everything into the same mold.
What DC Studios needs is someone who understands those differences and allows filmmakers to tell the stories that best suit the characters. Fans want a connected universe that makes sense, but they also want the creative freedom that allows these projects to stand apart.
Latcham has helped produce some awesome superhero movies, so he deserves a chance to show what he can do with DC. Still, I hope he leaves the grandma test at Marvel.
DC has too many great stories worth telling to start worrying about whether everyone's grandmother would approve.
What do you think? Does Latcham's approach sound like a good fit for DC Studios, or are you worried the DCU could become too family-friendly?