DC heroes such as Superman and Batman are set to welcome a new leader once more.
On Monday, Skydance Motion Picture Group revealed that James Gunn and Peter Safran will be stepping down from their roles as co-chief executives after four years at the helm of DC Studios. Despite their first film, Superman, only debuting in theaters last year, their tenure with DC has concluded unexpectedly.
Gunn and Safran managed to remain in their positions following Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The merger with Paramount Pictures was completed just as DC’s Clayface hit the screens.
However, it appears that Gunn and Safran will not be continuing after the merger. Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison is now looking to Jeremy Latchman, a seasoned Marvel Studios executive, to guide DC into a new era.
In a statement, Ellison expressed, “James and Peter initiated a new chapter for DC Studios, navigating it through a significant transformation, resetting the groundwork and creating a lineup we take immense pride in. We appreciate their enthusiasm, contributions, and dedication to this iconic brand.”
Director James Gunn participates in the Superman fan event at London’s Leicester Square on July 2, 2025. (ate Green/Getty Images)
The transition will become effective on December 1. Nevertheless, a substantial array of projects already in development guarantees that the influence of Gunn and Safran will linger at DC Studios for the foreseeable future.
Gunn, who directed Superman, is presently in post-production on its sequel, Man of Tomorrow. Additional forthcoming DC Studios releases include the series The People v. Gorilla Grodd and The Batman: Part II.
However, the extensive planning undertaken by Gunn and Safran over the past decade will not come to fruition as expected. Their leadership was marked by unique comic book adaptations and bold genre experiments, such as Clayface, which blended a superhero narrative with horror elements.
Earlier this year, Supergirl underperformed, marking a significant disappointment just after their second release.
Latchman will assume the roles of president and chief creative officer at DC Studios, reporting to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, the co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group.
-
REVIEW
Superman has a problem — and it’s not the film’s commentary on immigration
-
COMMOTION
Supergirl is not doing super well at the box office. Here’s why
Latchman has been a prominent executive for Marvel, contributing to the early phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with titles like Iron Man and The Avengers. He also collaborated with Gunn and Safran on their Guardians of the Galaxy project.
Goldberg and Greenstein remarked, “Jeremy possesses a profound respect for DC and its dedicated fanbase, understanding that they form the very core of this historic, multigenerational brand.”
They added, “Under his guidance, each film and television show will be developed with the perspective of the countless fans who adore and support it.”
