James Gunn and Peter Safran will step down as DC Studios co-CEOs on Dec. 1. Skydance has named former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham president and chief creative officer. Skydance gained oversight of DC Studios through its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Gunn and Safran took charge four years ago to much fanfare. They released three films: Superman, Supergirl and Clayface. Their live-action TV slate included The Penguin, Peacemaker season 2 and Lanterns. They also developed plans for a decade of DC projects.
Gunn and Safran Return to Creative Work
In a Monday Instagram post, Gunn described the highs and lows of running DC. He called executive work “trying, to say the least.” He added, “I dislike the at-times corporate nature of the job (thanks to Peter for taking the brunt of that.).”
Both plan to return to creative work full time. Gunn rose to fame directing Guardians of the Galaxy, while Safran produced numerous DC and horror titles.
Gunn’s Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, is in post-production for a planned 2027 release. The TV spinoff The People v. Gorilla Grodd is also in post-production. Both remain producers on The Batman: Part II, which is slated for 2028.
Gunn also revealed that he’s writing another DC movie under wraps. He said the characters he and Safran established will carry on after their departure.
“James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation, resetting the foundation and building a slate we’re incredibly proud of,” Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz said in a joint statement. “We’re grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand.”
Jeremy Latcham Returns to the Executive Ranks
Latcham joined Marvel Studios in 2004 as one of its earliest employees. He rose to senior vice president of production and development. He started as a protégé of Marvel chief Kevin Feige and became his right-hand man.
His Marvel credits include Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. He also earned credits on Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Spider-Man: Homecoming. He worked with Gunn on Guardians, the 2014 film that made Gunn an A-list director.
Skydance says Latcham will lead DC’s film, television and animation slate. He will oversee projects in development, production, talent and strategy. He’ll report to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein.
That reporting structure marks a change for DC Studios. Gunn and Safran reported directly to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav before the merger. They then reported directly to Ellison.
Ellison and Kreiz pointed to Latcham’s history with the outgoing co-CEOs. “Jeremy has been a longtime creative partner to both, and we have complete confidence that James and Peter will ensure a smooth, collaborative transition and continue this work with care. We look forward to working with Jeremy to build the next generation of DC storytelling and to doubling down on our commitment to fans.”
“DC’s pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture,” Latcham said in a statement. “I’ve had the privilege to help bring some of the most celebrated superhero stories to life on the big screen, and I’m excited and honored for the opportunity to now lead DC Studios into its next era. The chance to steward the incredible cast of DC characters to the screen in a way that excites lifelong fans while introducing their timeless stories to the next generation is a massive responsibility that I do not take lightly.”
DC’s Long-Term Slate Faces New Questions
Before the merger, Ellison flew to the set of Man of Tomorrow. Hollywood observers saw the visit as a vote of confidence in Gunn and Safran. The pair presented their long-term plan to Ellison in recent weeks.
Sources previously told The Hollywood Reporter that Ellison encouraged them to stay the course. “David knows everything… he’s been great with us,” Gunn told the outlet last month. He was discussing how he and Safran kept Ellison informed about their broader plans. Hollywood observers are now weighing whether the pair chose to leave or faced pressure to step down.
Their exit also raises questions about the slate they announced when they took over. Gunn and Safran aimed to move DC’s films beyond the Zack Snyder era. Their new Superman opened successfully in 2025. Supergirl flopped with critics and at the box office. Their third film, Clayface, earned strong reviews and turned a profit.
“Four years ago, we set out to unite DC under one creative vision. In that time, we helped restore Superman to the heart of DC, while opening new doors and telling new stories in film and television with Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface,” Gunn and Safran said. “We’re immensely proud of the team that turned that ambition into something real, including the actors, crews and executives we had the opportunity to collaborate with.”
The pair also welcomed Latcham’s appointment and pointed to their next Superman film. “We’ve shared a creative history with Jeremy going back to Marvel, and we’re eager to see the perspective he brings to DC’s next chapter. We’re excited to return to what drew us to this job in the first place, which is telling the stories we love, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s journey in Man of Tomorrow.”
