James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as the co-heads of DC Studios, bringing an end to a four-year run that rebooted the DC universe on screen. The announcement came on Monday, November 9, and it has sent a wave of surprise through Hollywood, coming just weeks after the merger that put Warner Bros. Discovery under Skydance.
Skydance confirmed that former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham will take over as president and chief creative officer of DC Studios from December 1, 2026. Gunn and Safran will stay on in creative roles, but the top job now belongs to a man who spent years building the rival Marvel machine.
What exactly happened
Gunn and Safran took charge of DC Studios in November 2022, when Warner Bros. Discovery asked them to bring its scattered film and television properties under one creative roof. Their job was to rebuild a franchise that had lost its way, and by most measures they did it. The 2025 film Superman relaunched the DC Universe, the series The Penguin became a critical hit, and a slate of connected films and shows finally started to feel like a plan rather than a series of one-offs.
Then came the merger. Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6, 2026, and DC Studios moved into the Skydance Motion Picture Group. At first, Gunn and Safran had suggested they would stay on under the new owners. That changed on November 9, when Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison announced the shake-up alongside co-CEO Ynon Kreiz.
In a statement, Ellison and Kreiz said Gunn and Safran had “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.” They thanked the pair for their “passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand.”
Gunn’s own words on the exit
Gunn addressed the news himself in a statement on Threads on November 9. He thanked the fans who had supported him and Safran through four years at the top of DC Studios, and he was candid about how the job had felt. The role had been trying at times, he said, with its corporate demands pulling him away from the work he loves most.
“I will miss the people around me, and I will miss being the co-caretaker of these great characters, but I’m also incredibly relieved and excited to get back to pure filmmaking,” Gunn wrote.
That last line is the key to what happens next. Gunn is not leaving DC. He will direct Man of Tomorrow, the follow-up to his Superman film, which is due in cinemas in summer 2027. He and Safran will also stay on as producers on The Batman Part II and on other DC projects already in post-production, including the series The People v. Gorilla Grodd.
Who is Jeremy Latcham?
The new man in charge is no stranger to superhero cinema. Jeremy Latcham is a former Marvel Studios executive who worked on some of the biggest films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe during its rise. His move from Marvel to DC is one of the most talked-about executive switches in recent Hollywood history, and it underlines how seriously Skydance is taking the DC brand.
Latcham will oversee DC’s film, television and animation projects, including creative development, production, talent and strategy. He will report to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, the co-chairs of the Skydance Motion Picture Group.
For fans, the appointment raises an obvious question: will DC start to feel more like Marvel? Latcham’s background suggests a steady hand on big connected universes, but DC’s recent identity has been built on filmmaker-led projects with distinct tones, from The Penguin to Superman. How much of that survives the change of leadership is the story to watch.
Why the timing surprised everyone
The exit caught the industry off guard for two reasons. First, Gunn and Safran had only recently signalled they intended to stay after the merger. Second, the DC slate they built is still in motion, with Man of Tomorrow already dated and several projects in various stages of production.
It is not yet clear whether the pair chose to step away or whether the decision came from Skydance’s senior management. What is clear is that the new owners want their own person steering the studio as it enters its next phase. Reports also suggest Safran’s contract was expiring, and he is being considered for an executive role at Netflix.
What this means for DC fans
- Man of Tomorrow is safe: Gunn is still directing the Superman sequel, due in summer 2027.
- The Batman Part II continues: Both Gunn and Safran remain producers on the film.
- No sudden reboot: Projects already in post-production stay under the pair’s creative watch.
- A new creative voice at the top: Latcham takes over on December 1, and his first decisions will shape the slate beyond 2027.
- The DC universe keeps its plan: The connected-universe approach Gunn and Safran built is not being torn up, at least for now.
For Indian audiences, the change matters because DC films are among the biggest Hollywood draws in the country, and the Superman reboot found a strong audience here. Whatever Latcham does next will be felt in theatres from Mumbai to Delhi.
Four years ago, Gunn and Safran were handed a broken franchise and asked to fix it. They leave behind a studio with a working plan, a hit Superman film and a sequel on the way. The next chapter belongs to someone else now, and the whole industry will be watching to see what he does with it.
FAQs
Why are James Gunn and Peter Safran leaving DC Studios?
They are stepping down as co-chairmen and co-CEOs after four years, with the change announced by Skydance on November 9, 2026. Gunn said the job had been trying and that he was relieved and excited to return to pure filmmaking.
Who is replacing them at DC Studios?
Former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham takes over as president and chief creative officer from December 1, 2026.
Is James Gunn leaving DC completely?
No. Gunn will direct Man of Tomorrow, the Superman sequel due in summer 2027, and he and Safran remain producers on The Batman Part II and other DC projects in post-production.
When did Gunn and Safran take charge of DC Studios?
They were appointed co-chairmen and co-CEOs in November 2022, when Warner Bros. Discovery brought DC’s film and television properties under one creative leadership.
Will the DC Universe slate change under Latcham?
Projects already in production or post-production continue as planned. Latcham’s influence will show in the slate beyond 2027, starting with the decisions he takes after December 1.
Stay tuned to Informeia for the latest updates from Hollywood and the world of entertainment.
