The DC superheroes, including Superman and Batman, are set to have a new leader once again.
On Monday, Skydance Motion Picture Group revealed that James Gunn and Peter Safran will be stepping down as co-CEOs after four years at the helm of DC Studios. Despite their first film, Superman, only debuting last year, their tenure with DC has come to an unexpected conclusion.
Gunn and Safran managed to remain in their roles following Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. This merger with Paramount Pictures was completed just as DC’s Clayface was released.
However, it has become evident that Gunn and Safran will not continue after the merger. Instead, David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Skydance, is turning to Jeremy Latcham, a seasoned executive from Marvel Studios, to guide DC into its next phase.
“James and Peter ushered in a new era for DC Studios and guided it through a significant transformation, laying a foundation and developing a slate that we are immensely proud of,” Ellison stated.
“We appreciate their enthusiasm, contributions, and dedication to this iconic brand.”
Director James Gunn attends the Superman fan event in London’s Leicester Square on July 2, 2025. (ate Green/Getty Images)
Transition takes place on December 1
The transition will take effect on December 1. However, a significant number of projects already underway means that Gunn and Safran’s influence will linger at DC Studios for some time.
Gunn, who directed Superman, is currently in the post-production phase of the sequel, Man of Tomorrow. Other forthcoming releases from DC Studios include the series The People v. Gorilla Grodd and The Batman Part II.
Nevertheless, the extensive planning undertaken by Gunn and Safran over the past decade will not come to realization. Their tenure has been marked by unique comic book adaptations and bold genre experiments, including Clayface, which merged superhero storytelling with elements of horror.
Earlier this year, Supergirl experienced a disappointing performance, marking a significant setback in just their second release.
Latcham will assume the roles of president and chief creative officer at DC Studios, reporting to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group.
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Latcham has been a prominent executive for Marvel’s projects, including the initial phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with films like Iron Man and The Avengers. He also collaborated with Gunn and Safran on Guardians of the Galaxy.
‘My experience at DC Studios has been challenging’: Gunn
Following the announcement of their departure, the duo shared an official statement praising DC Studios and specifically Latcham. However, in a personal message on Instagram, Gunn alluded to some of the challenges he faced while directing at the studio.
“What only a few close to me have known over the past four years is that my time at DC Studios has been quite challenging,” Gunn stated, highlighting the “sometimes corporate nature of the job” and the need to split his focus between projects that didn’t engage him creatively.
“So yes, while I will miss the colleagues around me and the opportunity to co-manage these exceptional characters, I am also immensely relieved and eager to return to pure filmmaking.”
