James Gunn and Peter Safran are out at DC Studios just 33 days after Skydance secured control of the comic book empire through its Warner Bros. acquisition.
The executive shuffle brings in former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham as president and chief creative officer of DC Studios starting December 1, 2026. Skydance CEOs David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz thanked Gunn and Safran for their passion, contributions, and commitment
during their four-year tenure.
James Gunn has released a statement after stepping down as head of DC Studios: “What only the closest people to me have known over the past four years is my time at DC Studios has been trying, to say the least. I dislike the at-times corporate nature of the job (thanks to Peter… pic.twitter.com/pQbrZzh0Ad
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While Ellison originally stated in early October that Gunn and Safran would remain in their roles, plans changed by November 6, when Ellison and Kreiz arrived at the offices on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank to inform the duo.
The transition places Latcham under the oversight of new Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg, replacing the direct line Gunn and Safran previously held to former Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
‘CLAYFACE’ will reportedly not break-even theatrically. It is expected to break-even only when the studio factors in post-theatrical revenues. (Source: https://t.co/3GDrLsbKdJ) pic.twitter.com/UoUJUDdTBi
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Latcham previously worked alongside Kevin Feige at Marvel Studios, serving as a producer on cornerstone films such as Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Spider-Man: Homecoming before departing in 2017.
Following his departure from Marvel, he founded Latcham Pictures and spent time working with the faith-focused studio Wonder Project, where he contributed to the biblical TV series House of David and the Wright Brothers feature Flyer.
James Gunn's DCU plans will be mostly dismantled, excluding what has already been filmed. (Source: @PuckNews) pic.twitter.com/I59RZYMpeq
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Although Gunn’s July franchise kickoff Superman grossed $618 million against a $225 million budget, the momentum slowed when Supergirl brought in $126 million globally against a $170 million budget, opening domestically to just $37 million and resulting in a $135 million loss.
Meanwhile, the recent horror release Clayface has grossed $109 million worldwide through three weekends against a $40 million budget. Behind the scenes, friction mounted over reporting structures as Skydance sought to consolidate film production under Greenstein and Goldberg. Producers noted that Gunn’s approach often leaned toward the corniness of 1950s DC, requiring an adjustment from the Zack Snyder era that did not always resonate with audiences.
Gunn and Safran were originally hired in 2022 by David Zaslav to overhaul the company’s most lucrative intellectual property following earlier misfires like The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Their tenure also saw the release of the 2021 film The Suicide Squad, featuring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn alongside characters like Bloodsport, Polka Dot Man, King Shark, and Peacemaker.
John Cena’s performance as Peacemaker led to a dedicated breakout television series on HBO Max written and partially directed by Gunn. Other productions under their watch included the adult animated series Creature Commandos and the buzzy eight-episode first season of Lanterns on HBO.
Jeremy Latcham will take over as head of DC Studios following the exits of James Gunn and Peter Safran. He will oversee DC’s film, television and animation slate, leading the entire creative pipeline, production, talent and overall strategy. (https://t.co/I6k9iJKKXC) pic.twitter.com/8yAqxklGnJ
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Gunn had finished production on the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, which is scheduled for release on July 9, 2027. The film is set to bring back David Corenswet as the Man of Steel alongside Nicholas Hoult’s supervillain Lex Luthor, and feature Adria Arjona in a mystery role widely expected or rumored to be Wonder Woman. Gorilla Grodd has completed filming and is expected to debut in 2027 with Skydance executive backing.
Industry insiders report that Latcham and the new Skydance brass are evaluating whether to scrap much of the remaining 2022 Chapter One roadmap.
Other previously announced projects, such as James Mangold’s Swamp Thing movie, the Starfire animated series set in the Vega galaxy, the Peacemaker spinoff Waller starring Viola Davis, Paradise Lost, Booster Gold, and an Authority movie, face heightened uncertainty. Creators and fans now await word on whether the broader interconnected universe will survive the reset under incoming leadership.
