James Gunn and Peter Safran are leaving their roles as co-heads of DC Studios, with former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham taking over from 1 December. Gunn released a statement after the departure was announced, saying he is "incredibly relieved" to be going back to pure filmmaking.
He said he found the corporate side of the job frustrating, and that the hardest part was dividing his time between the projects he loves and his studio duties. "The characters we set up will live on," he said.
He looked back on his time in the job, citing the release of Superman and Clayface, the making of Peacemaker, and his experience on Man of Tomorrow, which he described as the best filmmaking experience of his career. Gunn and Safran were appointed in 2022.
During their time in charge, the studio produced Superman, Supergirl, Clayface, Creature Commandos, the second season of Peacemaker, The Penguin and Lanterns. The change is linked to the Skydance merger, which places Paramount in full control of Warner Bros. and its properties.
Reports suggest the new owners may want a different direction for DC, with greater focus on major characters such as Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Batman. The DC Universe has not yet cast its Batman.
Upcoming projects include Man of Tomorrow, due on 9 July 2027, The People V. Gorilla Grodd, the second season of Creature Commandos and The Batman: Part II.
It has not been said what will happen to Superman, Supergirl or Clayface going forward, beyond Gunn's comment on the characters. Industry analysts believe this transition marks a significant shift in the superhero genre landscape.
With Paramount now steering the ship, the focus is expected to shift toward established intellectual properties that can guarantee box office success. Jeremy Latcham brings a wealth of experience from his time at Marvel, where he was instrumental in the development of several blockbuster hits.
His appointment is seen as a strategic move to stabilize the studio during this period of corporate restructuring. Fans of the DC Universe remain anxious about the future of the interconnected storylines established under Gunn and Safran.
The studio has promised further updates regarding the production schedule in the coming weeks.