Monday’s announcement that James Gunn and Peter Safran are leaving their posts as co-chairs of DC Studios came as a surprise. In a post on X, Skydance CEO David Ellison welcomed Marvel veteran Jeremy Latcham as their successor before thanking Gunn and Safran for rebuilding the studio’s slate.
David Ellison in an interview with Bloomberg – YouTube, Bloomberg Podcasts
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The leadership change takes effect December 1, when Latcham becomes president and chief creative officer. Gunn and Safran had led DC Studios since 2022 and were initially named to Skydance’s leadership team after the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition closed in October.
Jeremy Latcham Brings Marvel Experience to DC
Ellison highlighted Latcham’s work on the early Marvel Cinematic Universe, saying the executive “helped define the modern superhero movie.” Latcham’s Marvel credits include Iron Man, The Avengers, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. He also worked with Gunn as an executive producer on Guardians of the Galaxy.
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.
— David Ellison (@davidellison) November 9, 2026
“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,” Ellison wrote.
According to Variety, Latcham will oversee DC’s film, television, and animation slate. He’ll report to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein and guide projects already underway while deciding what the studio develops next.
He inherits a slate with an uneven box office record. Gunn’s Superman earned about $619 million worldwide, while Supergirl took in roughly $126 million against a reported $170 million budget.
David Ellison Thanks James Gunn and Peter Safran
Ellison singled out Superman, Lanterns, and Creature Commandos as examples of what Gunn and Safran brought to DC. His choices span three formats: a theatrical reboot, a live-action television series, and an animated show.
“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,” Ellison added. “We’re grateful for the passion and care they brought to this work, and for the lasting mark they’ve left on DC.”
Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in Lanterns – HBO, DC Studios
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At the same time, it also highlights the pair’s unusual approach to building out the DC Universe. Superman is a marquee name. However, Lanterns offers no indication that it was based on the Green Lantern comics, and even many DC fans were unfamiliar with the Creature Commandos. Noticeably absent are names like Wonder Woman and Batman, who have yet to be introduced in the DCU.
So far, two of Gunn of Safran’s most noteworthy achievements are only meaningful to those invested in their work, and not the broader audience.
What Gunn’s Departure Means for DC Studios
Ellison’s tribute offered little insight into why the leadership change came so soon after the acquisition. Gunn’s own statement was more personal. He said he found the corporate side of the job trying and was relieved to return to filmmaking.
James Gunn sits for an interview – YouTube, GQ
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Gunn and Safran are still working on Man of Tomorrow, the Superman follow-up that will continue the story of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. The film is already in postproduction, and Gunn said he’s also writing another DC project.
Ellison has moved quickly to change who runs DC Studios. Whether Latcham sticks with the slate Gunn and Safran mapped out or brings more familiar characters to the forefront will become clearer once he starts greenlighting projects of his own. One early clue will be which hero gets the next theatrical film after Man of Tomorrow.
What do you think about this David Ellison statement on the departure of James Gunn and Peter Safran? Sound off and let us know!
