James Gunn and Peter Safran were told they were out at DC Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter—an account that points to their removal rather than a voluntary departure.
THR reports that David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz visited their offices on the Warner Bros. lot on November 6 and informed them that earlier plans to keep them in leadership had changed. The decision also appears to have been developing for some time.
“One insider indicated the exec shuffle had been in the works since early fall,” the outlet reported.
That account adds important context to Monday’s announcement, which emphasized gratitude, collaboration, and the pair’s return to creative work without explaining how the leadership change came about.
Gunn has expressed relief about leaving the corporate responsibilities behind. His feelings about the outcome, however, do not establish that leaving was his choice.
A Power Struggle Behind the DC Shakeup
According to THR, authority over DC became a source of friction. Gunn and Safran had reported directly to David Zaslav, with contracts reportedly preserving that arrangement under new leadership. Skydance film chiefs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein wanted to consolidate oversight of movie production.
Superman withstands fire in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
READ: Disney World Discounted Rates Start at $99 a Night, But Guests Can’t Cancel or Change
The report also describes complaints that Gunn and Safran were slow to share slate information and footage. Those remain attributed accounts of internal disagreements, rather than established evidence of deliberate obstruction.
The resulting structure is clear. Skydance’s official announcement confirms that incoming DC Studios president and chief creative officer Jeremy Latcham will report to Goldberg and Greenstein when he starts December 1. He will oversee film, television, animation, production, talent, and strategy.
That places DC under the oversight of the executives with whom Gunn and Safran reportedly clashed.
Box Office Results Added to the Pressure
Financial performance reportedly compounded those tensions. THR reports that Skydance viewed Supergirl as a disaster and believed the profitable Superman had fallen short of its commercial and cultural expectations.
Superman earned approximately $619 million worldwide, while Supergirl brought in roughly $126 million against a reported $170 million production budget. The lower-budget Clayface offered a brighter spot, passing $100 million globally on a $44 million production budget. Together, those results gave the new owners an uneven theatrical record to evaluate.
Image from the Clayface trailer – Warner Bros., YouTube
READ: Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life Garden Is Closed Indefinitely for Planned Tree Maintenance
Clayface’s more modest approach showed promise, but DC’s larger releases still needed to justify their costs and establish an audience for future installments. Sustaining an interconnected slate requires films that meet the owners’ expectations, particularly when each release is supposed to help build demand for the next.
Gunn Expressed Relief About Returning to Filmmaking
In his public response to the announcement, Gunn acknowledged that running DC had taken a personal toll. He discussed the corporate workload, lost time with loved ones, and difficulty dividing his attention across his responsibilities.
He said he was “incredibly relieved and excited to get back to pure filmmaking.”
James Gunn – DC, YouTube
READ: Nintendo Is Hiring a Digital Archivist to Organize Records of Its Older Hardware and Software
His statement helps explain why returning to writing and directing appeals to him. It offers less insight into the discussions that led to the leadership change.
Ellison’s public comments similarly focused on the future. As That Park Place covered earlier, he welcomed Latcham before thanking Gunn and Safran for their contributions. His tribute offered little explanation for the decision itself.
Taken together, the public statements presented a cordial transition. THR’s account suggests that significant disagreements preceded it.
Gunn Still Has Work at DC
The leadership change does not end Gunn and Safran’s involvement with the studio. Skydance confirms that Man of Tomorrow, written and directed by Gunn and produced by both men, is in postproduction and scheduled for July 9, 2027.
Continuing to make DC projects, however, is different from controlling the studio’s direction. Latcham will inherit responsibility for deciding what moves forward and how those productions fit together.
For fans, the next question is how much of Gunn and Safran’s plan survives that transfer of authority. Their ongoing creative involvement provides some continuity, but the change in leadership gives Skydance an opportunity to reassess the franchise’s priorities.
Are you surprised that James Gunn was fired? Sound off and let us know!
UP NEXT: James Gunn Fans and Haters React to End of His DC Tenure
