DC’s iconic heroes, including Superman and Batman, are set to have a new leader once again.
On Monday, Skydance Motion Picture Group announced that James Gunn and Peter Safran will be stepping down as co-CEOs after four years at the helm of DC Studios. Although their inaugural film, Superman, was released just last year, their tenure has unexpectedly concluded.
Gunn and Safran managed to remain at their posts following Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The studio’s merger with Paramount Pictures was completed right as DC’s Clayface hit theaters.
Nonetheless, it has become evident that Gunn and Safran will not continue beyond the merger. Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison has chosen 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 navigated it through a significant transformation, laying a foundation and developing a lineup that we are immensely proud of,” Ellison said in a statement.
“We appreciate their passion, contributions, and dedication to this legendary franchise.”
Director James Gunn attends the Superman fan event in London’s Leicester Square on July 2, 2025. (ate Green/Getty Images)
Transition to occur on Dec. 1
The transition will take place on December 1. However, a multitude of projects already in development guarantees that Gunn and Safran’s influence will remain evident at DC Studios for the foreseeable future.
Gunn, who directed Superman, is in the post-production phase of its 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 materialize. Their leadership has been marked by unique comic book adaptations and bold genre explorations, such as Clayface, which blended superhero elements with horror.
Earlier this year, Supergirl underperformed at the box office, marking a significant disappointment in just their second release.
Latcham will assume the positions of president and chief creative officer of 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 figure among executives for Marvel films, including the initial phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man and The Avengers. He also collaborated with Gunn and Safran on the Guardians of the Galaxy series.
‘My experience at DC Studios has been challenging’: Gunn
Following the announcement of their exit, both released an official statement commending DC Studios and Latcham in particular. However, in a personal message on his Instagram, Gunn alluded to some of the challenges he faced while directing the studio.
“What only my closest friends have known over the past four years is that my time at DC Studios has been quite trying, to say the least,” Gunn expressed, citing the “corporate aspects of the role” and the need to split his focus among projects that did not engage him creatively.
“So yes, I will miss the people I worked with, and I will miss being a co-caretaker of these incredible characters, but I am also immensely relieved and eager to return to pure filmmaking.”