DC Surprise: James Gunn & Peter Safran Step Down as Studio Heads!
A Successor to Gunn and Safran Has Already Been Named
Major DC Shake-Up: James Gunn and Peter Safran have announced that they are stepping down from their positions at the top of DC Studios! Under their leadership, the new DCU was created, which kicked off in 2025 with "Superman". Now, however, the Gunn and Safran era is over. In a statement, Gunn explained his decision. A successor has already been named, as Skydance CEO David Ellison, among others, announced.
Gunn & Safran's Departure from DC
Gunn and Safran spent roughly four years at the helm of DC. According to consistent media reports, Gunn and Safran made it clear in a joint statement that they remain proud of their work at DC:
"Four years ago, we set out to unite DC under a shared creative vision. [...] We are immensely proud of the team that brought this ambition to life, including the actors, crews, and executives we had the privilege of working with."
James Gunn Talks About His Reasons
Gunn also commented via Instagram, elaborating somewhat on the reasons for his departure from DC's leadership:
"What only the people closest to me have known over the past four years is that my time at DC Studios has been, to put it mildly, a challenge. I don't like the sometimes very corporate nature of the job (thanks to Peter [Safran], who took on most of that). I always work very hard, but as a filmmaker, I was at least able to take short breaks to relax—and even that time I've denied myself and my loved ones over the past four years."
The filmmaker went on to explain his reasons:
"And what my ADHD hyperfocus struggled with the most was dividing my time between projects I'm incredibly passionate about and those I'm less enthusiastic about, as well as all the tasks I have to handle as a studio boss."
Gunn's Future at DC
According to reports, Gunn and Safran now want to refocus their attention on the creative aspects of the film business. Gunn will, for example, continue to work as a director and screenwriter on his second "Superman" film, "Man of Tomorrow. " Beyond that, Gunn also wants to continue working within the DC universe. In his Instagram statement, he mentioned that he 's already working on a new DC project. However, Gunn didn't go into further detail.
The New DC Boss: Jeremy Latcham
Meanwhile, Jeremy Latcham has been announced as his successor. He is very familiar with the superhero genre: Latcham is a true Marvel veteran and also contributed to the development of the MCU under the leadership of Kevin Feige. David Ellison welcomed Latcham to his new role via X:
"We're thrilled to welcome Jeremy to DC Studios! As part of the founding team behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern superhero film and has spearheaded some of the biggest and most beloved comic book adaptations of our time. We can't wait to see what stories he'll bring to life and how he'll help shape the future of DC for fans around the world."
Ellison also thanked Gunn and Safran for their work. The duo, in turn, expressed their support for Latcham, saying they were eager to see "what new perspective he will bring to the next chapter of DC."
The Gunn & Safran Era
The joint era of James Gunn and Peter Safran at the helm of DC began in 2022. It was marked above all by a comprehensive reboot of the DC Universe. The new DCU made its official debut with "Superman." David Corenswet took on the role of the famous title character, ushering in a new era for DC superheroes. The film was received overwhelmingly positively by audiences and critics alike. In 2026, two more feature films — *Supergirl* and *Clayface*— followed, further expanding the still-young cinematic universe. *Supergirl*, however, proved to be a financial failure.
Under the duo's leadership, there were also several major projects in the TV series sector. These include the previously launched series "The Penguin, " the second season of "Peacemaker," and the new production "Lanterns.""The Penguin" and "Lanterns," in particular, enjoyed great popularity among fans and critics alike. It remains to be seen how the DCU will continue to develop under the new leadership. For now, DC fans can look forward to "Man of Tomorrow" in theaters. The "Superman" sequel will hit the big screen on July 8, 2027. You can find all the details in our comprehensive movie preview:
