Well, the DCU just lost both of its bosses.
Skydance Motion Picture Group announced on Monday (9 November) that James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-CEOs of DC Studios after four years.
The exit is a surprise. Skydance chief David Ellison had named Gunn and Safran to his leadership team when Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery closed in October.
The Associated Press notes that the pair survived the takeover itself, but did not survive the merger with Paramount, which finalised just as “Clayface” hit cinemas.
What Gunn and Safran said
Both are heading back to storytelling. In their joint statement, Gunn and Safran say they set out four years ago to unite DC under one creative vision. They point to restoring “Superman” to the heart of DC, along with “Peacemaker,” “Creature Commandos,” “Lanterns” and “Clayface.”
They also say they are eager to see the perspective Latcham brings, and that they want to return to what drew them to the job in the first place, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s story in “Man of Tomorrow.”
Gunn also gave his own account in a long statement on Instagram, and the short version is that the job wore him out.
He said his four years running DC Studios were “trying, to say the least.” He dislikes the corporate side of the role and thanked Safran for taking the brunt of it.
The job also ate into the short breaks Gunn normally takes between films. He said he took that time from himself and his loved ones.
He added that his ADHD hyperfocus struggled most with splitting his time between projects he loves and the studio head duties he does not.
There were highs, too. Gunn named releasing “Superman” and “Clayface,” making “Peacemaker” and reading the scripts for “The People v. Gorilla Grodd.” He called “Man of Tomorrow” the best filmmaking experience of his life so far.
Skydance chief David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz thanked the pair for their passion, contributions and commitment, and promised a smooth, collaborative transition to Latcham. They added that they look forward to doubling down on their commitment to fans.
Who is replacing them?
Meet Jeremy Latcham.
Latcham joined Marvel Studios in 2004 and rose to senior VP of production and development, working closely with Kevin Feige to launch the MCU. He was an associate producer on “Iron Man,” a co-producer on “Iron Man 2,” and an executive producer on “The Avengers,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and Tom Holland’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Gunn and Safran say they share a creative history with him that goes back to Marvel.
Latcham becomes president and chief creative officer of DC Studios, reporting to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein. The changeover takes effect on 1 December. He will lead DC’s film, television and animation slate, overseeing the creative pipeline, production, talent and strategy.
Latcham left Marvel in 2017 to found Latcham Pictures, which held first-look deals at 20th Century Fox, Hasbro and Wonder Project. The company produced “Bad Times at the El Royale” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.”
Most recently, he held an overall deal at Hasbro Entertainment, where he was developing a “Dungeons & Dragons” sequel and an “Action Man” film. He is also producing Lionsgate’s “Naruto” adaptation, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
Latcham said he is honoured to lead DC into its next era, and wants to build something ambitious for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Goldberg and Greenstein said he brings deep reverence for DC and its fanbase, and that every film and show will go through the lens of the fans who love it.
What stays on the calendar
Plenty. The Gunn and Safran era is not vanishing overnight.
Gunn will still finish and release his Superman sequel “Man of Tomorrow” and stay involved in the spinoff series “The People v. Gorilla Grodd.” Both men remain attached as producers on Matt Reeves’ “The Batman: Part II.”
“Man of Tomorrow” is still set for 9 July 2027, and “The Batman Part II” for 18 February 2028. That means David Corenswet’s Superman and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor will get their rematch, and Robert Pattinson’s Batman will return, regardless of who sits in the big chair.
On the TV side, “The People v. Gorilla Grodd” arrives in 2027. It is anchored by Skyler Gisondo, who plays Jimmy Olsen in “Superman,” and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd.
An Era Ends
Former Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav appointed Gunn and Safran in 2022 with a clear mission: build a true rival to Marvel’s MCU.
The reboot kicked off with the animated series “Creature Commandos,” and its big-screen debut was last summer’s “Superman,” which grossed $618.7 million worldwide. That is a solid result, though it fell short of the biggest superhero hits. Then came July’s “Supergirl,” which bombed with $126 million on a $170 million budget.
“Clayface,” a darker, R-rated body-horror thriller, made $109 million on a $44 million budget this fall. That is a modest result. Meanwhile, the pair expanded DC to streaming with “Peacemaker” and “Lanterns” for HBO Max.
What happens next?
Nobody has publicly laid out a plan and it’s too early, so here is what we are watching.
1. Does Latcham keep the plan or burn it down?
Despite what Gunn says, he’s no longer the head honcho. And so once the projects with him are done, the big question is whether Latcham stays the course or wipes the slate clean after “Man of Tomorrow” opens in July 2027. Rebooting a reboot is a bold look, even for DC.
2. Will the Batman universes merge?
With Gunn and Safran gone and no real headway on Gunn’s own take on Batman, DC is free to fold Reeves’ Epic Crime Saga into the main universe. That would solve the problem of having two Batmen in development. We would not bet against it.
3. Will the tone change?
The Gunn era leaned into oddball swings, like a body-horror Clayface. Latcham comes from the most polished franchise machine in Hollywood. We expect a tighter, more connected plan, with fewer gambles. His own comments about broad, family-friendly appeal point the same way, though that is one clue, not a verdict.
4. What does Gunn do next?
He seemed eager to focus on writing and directing again. Whether that means more DC after “Man of Tomorrow” is the question fans will keep asking.
For now, DC fans have one clear date to circle. We will find out how much of the plan survives once Latcham takes over on 1 December.
