James Gunn and Peter Safran are officially stepping down as the heads of DC Studios, marking a dramatic leadership shakeup just over a month after David Ellison’s Skydance completed its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
According to a breaking report from Variety, the two executives will be replaced by former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham, who will assume the role of president and chief creative officer of DC Studios.
The announcement comes after four years of mixed commercial results under Gunn and Safran, whose ambitious efforts to reboot DC’s cinematic universe produced a modestly successful Superman, a disastrous Supergirl, and several television productions.
While Gunn and Safran will continue working on individual creative projects, they will no longer oversee the direction of DC Studios.
The timing is particularly remarkable considering that both men were explicitly included in Skydance’s new executive leadership team when the acquisition closed in October.
Now, barely five weeks later, the company has installed a new executive to oversee one of its most valuable entertainment franchises.
Four Years of Mixed Commercial Results
When Gunn and Safran assumed control of DC Studios in 2022, their mandate was to establish a cohesive cinematic universe capable of competing with Marvel Studios.
Their approach involved largely abandoning the previous DC Extended Universe, replacing Henry Cavill as Superman, and launching an interconnected slate of theatrical films and streaming productions.
However, the results have been inconsistent.
Gunn’s Superman, released in 2025, earned approximately $618 million worldwide. Although the film was considered a modest success by some, it didn’t approach the billion-dollar heights achieved by some of the industry’s most successful superhero franchises.
The financial picture became substantially worse with Supergirl, which earned just $126 million worldwide against a reported $170 million production budget.
Superman beaten down in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
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That theatrical performance represented a major disappointment, with the film’s worldwide box office failing to match its production costs even before accounting for marketing expenses and theater revenue splits.
Meanwhile, Clayface performed more favorably, earning approximately $109 million worldwide against a $44 million production budget. However, that’s not including marketing expenses.
The company also expanded its television portfolio with Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, and Lanterns.
Despite those efforts, DC Studios struggled to establish the kind of consistent theatrical profitability expected from a franchise built around some of the most recognizable characters in popular culture.
Although Variety highlighted the mixed commercial performance of Gunn and Safran’s tenure, the report did not establish that box-office results were the direct cause of their departures.
Gunn and Safran Address Their Departure
In a joint statement, Gunn and Safran reflected on their time leading DC Studios and expressed enthusiasm about returning to creative work.
“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,’” Gunn and Safran said. “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.”
The statement confirms that Gunn will continue writing and directing Man of Tomorrow, his upcoming Superman sequel starring David Corenswet.
Gunn is not being removed from DC’s creative operations entirely. Rather, he is relinquishing the executive authority that previously allowed him to oversee the company’s entire film and television strategy.
Future decisions about DC’s larger creative direction will now fall under Latcham’s leadership.
David Ellison Makes His First Major DC Leadership Change
The announcement represents a significant reversal from the executive structure established following Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
In October, Gunn and Safran were retained as part of the new leadership team, suggesting that the incoming ownership intended to preserve continuity at DC Studios.
Instead, the company has opted for a different executive structure barely a month later.
David Ellison talks to Bloomberg – YouTube, Bloomberg Podcasts
Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz praised Gunn and Safran’s contributions while expressing confidence in their replacement.
The executives credited the departing leaders with launching a new era for DC Studios and overseeing a period of transformation.
“We’re grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand,” Ellison and Kreiz said in a statement. “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.”
The announcement doesn’t establish whether Gunn and Safran voluntarily initiated their departures or whether Skydance leadership requested the change.
Nevertheless, the practical result is a substantial restructuring of DC Studios’ executive leadership.
Marvel Veteran Jeremy Latcham Takes Control
Jeremy Latcham arrives with considerable experience developing interconnected superhero franchises.
He joined Marvel Studios in 2004 and eventually rose to senior vice president of production and development, working closely with Kevin Feige during the establishment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
His credits include Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Chris Evans as Captain America, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, and Mark Ruffalo as Hulk in The Avengers (2012), Marvel Entertainment
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After leaving Marvel in 2017, Latcham established Latcham Pictures and worked on productions including Bad Times at the El Royale and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
At DC Studios, Latcham will oversee the film, television, and animation divisions, including production, creative development, talent relationships, and long-term franchise strategy.
He will report directly to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group.
His experience during Marvel’s early expansion gives him a background in coordinating multiple productions within a shared cinematic universe, something DC has struggled to accomplish consistently.
Skydance Makes a Direct Appeal to DC Fans
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the announcement is the language used by Goldberg and Greenstein when introducing Latcham.
Rather than simply praising his executive experience, the two executives emphasized his understanding of DC’s established audience.
“Jeremy brings a deep reverence for DC and its passionate fanbase, recognizing that they are the very foundation of this storied, multigenerational brand,” said Goldberg and Greenstein. “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.”
That is an unusually direct acknowledgment of the importance of longtime fans to the franchise’s future.
Robert Pattinson in The Batman – Warner Bros., YouTube
Gunn’s tenure was frequently accompanied by disagreements over casting, characterization, and the creative direction of DC’s most recognizable heroes. The decision to replace Henry Cavill as Superman was particularly divisive, while subsequent projects generated additional debate among longtime DC audiences.
Skydance’s promise to approach future productions through the perspective of dedicated fans could indicate a different philosophy toward franchise management.
However, the company has not announced any specific creative reversals or changes to its existing slate.
For now, the promise remains just that: a promise.
Jeremy Latcham Promises a New Chapter for DC
Latcham also issued a statement emphasizing the responsibility of overseeing characters with generations of established fans.
“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.”
His remarks reinforce the audience-focused messaging coming from Skydance’s leadership.
James Spader as Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Marvel Studios
However, Latcham faces the same fundamental challenge that confronted Gunn and Safran in 2022: translating the popularity of DC’s comic book characters into a financially sustainable film and television franchise.
That challenge will require more than ambitious announcements or promises of creative cohesion.
It will require films and television productions capable of attracting audiences, generating profits, and sustaining long-term interest in the DC brand.
What Comes Next for DC Studios?
For now, the existing DC slate remains intact.
Gunn is expected to continue work on Man of Tomorrow, while Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II remains scheduled for 2028.
There has been no announcement that Latcham intends to abandon the current DC Universe, restore the previous continuity, or cancel projects already in development. However, the leadership change creates an opportunity for Skydance to reassess the company’s priorities, particularly concerning productions that have not yet entered active development or filming.
It also marks a fundamental change in Gunn’s relationship with DC Studios.
James Gunn introduces the trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 – YouTube, DC
For four years, Gunn was both a filmmaker and the executive responsible for determining the direction of the larger franchise. Now, he will return to filmmaking while someone else oversees the creative and commercial decisions affecting DC’s future.
Whether the leadership change produces stronger financial results remains to be seen. But after years of inconsistent box-office performances and persistent disagreements over DC’s creative direction, Skydance has made its first major move to reshape the franchise under its ownership.
James Gunn and Peter Safran’s time running DC Studios has come to an end. The responsibility for delivering a successful DC Universe now belongs to Jeremy Latcham.
