DC’s iconic heroes, 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 from their roles as co-heads of DC Studios after four years at the helm. Their inaugural film in this position, Superman, only hit theaters last year, yet their time with DC has come to a sudden conclusion.
Initially, Gunn and Safran managed to remain in their roles following Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The merger with Paramount Pictures was completed just as DC’s Clayface premiered.
However, it appears that Gunn and Safran will not last through this merger. Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison is appointing Jeremy Latcham, a seasoned professional from Marvel Studios, to guide DC into its next phase.
Ellison stated, “James and Peter ushered in a new era for DC Studios and navigated a time of significant change, laying a new foundation and creating a slate we are immensely proud of.”
He added, “We appreciate their enthusiasm, contributions, and dedication to this legendary brand.”
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 December 1
The transition will take place on December 1. Nevertheless, a substantial number of projects already underway will ensure 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 for its sequel, Man of Tomorrow. Other forthcoming releases from DC Studios include the series The People v. Gorilla Grodd and The Batman Part II.
However, the extensive planning that Gunn and Safran executed over the past decade will not come to fruition. Their tenure has been marked by unique comic book interpretations and bold genre experiments, exemplified by Clayface, which merged superhero elements with horror.
Earlier this year, the release of Supergirl was met with disappointing results, marking a significant setback during their second outing.
Latcham will assume the roles of president and chief creative officer at DC Studios, reporting to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, who serve as co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group.
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Latcham has been a prominent executive involved with Marvel projects, contributing to the initial phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with films like Iron Man and The Avengers. He also collaborated with Gunn and Safran on their Guardians of the Galaxy series.
‘My experience at DC Studios has been challenging’: Gunn
Following the announcement of their departure, both released an official statement praising DC Studios and specifically acknowledging Latcham. However, in a personal message shared on Instagram, Gunn alluded to some of the challenges he faced while directing at the studio.
“What only my closest friends have known over the last four years is that my time at DC Studios has been quite trying,” Gunn expressed, citing the “often corporate nature of the role” and the need to split his focus between projects that didn’t resonate with him artistically.
“While I will certainly miss the people I worked with and being a co-caretaker of these incredible characters, I am also immensely relieved and eager to return to pure filmmaking.”