DC Studios Shakeup: James Gunn and Peter Safran Out as Marvel Veteran Jeremy Latcham Takes Over
Skydance named former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham to lead DC Studios on Monday, 9 November 2026, replacing co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran after four years in charge of the superhero studio. Latcham takes over on 1 December, just weeks after Paramount Skydance completed its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The change ends one of the most closely watched rebuilding jobs in Hollywood. Gunn and Safran were hired in 2022 to reboot DC’s films and television as a single connected universe, and their exit hands the franchise to a man who helped build the rival Marvel Cinematic Universe from the inside.
| DC Studios leadership change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Outgoing | James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-chairs and co-CEOs since 2022 |
| Incoming | Jeremy Latcham, president and chief creative officer |
| Takes over | 1 December 2026 |
| Reports to | Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group |
| Gunn and Safran next | Return full-time to filmmaking and producing |
Four years that rebuilt the DC Universe from scratch
Gunn and Safran arrived after a run of high-profile box office failures in DC’s previous era, including 2017’s Justice League, and were tasked with starting over. They officially relaunched the franchise in 2024 as the DC Universe, a shared world that began with the animated series Creature Commandos and continued into its first film, the Gunn-directed Superman in 2025.
Superman got the reboot off to a strong start. Starring David Corenswet as the new Man of Steel, it drew positive reviews and grossed more than $600 million worldwide. The very next film was a setback, though: Supergirl, the Milly Alcock-led spin-off released in June 2026, flopped at the box office and received mixed reviews.
The studio’s third feature steadied the slate. Clayface, a dark, R-rated body-horror film set in the Batman universe, has grossed more than $100 million worldwide since its 23 October release, against a reported $44 million budget. On television, DC Studios released four well-received HBO shows during the pair’s tenure: The Penguin, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Peacemaker season two.
Why the change came weeks after the merger
The timing caught Hollywood by surprise. The merger between DC Studios’ owner, Warner Bros., and Paramount Skydance was completed on 6 October, and Gunn had publicly suggested he and Safran would stay in their roles. In October, he told The Hollywood Reporter that Skydance chief David Ellison “said he wanted to continue on with what we were doing” and that the pair had outlined their DC plans for him.
Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz praised the outgoing pair in a statement carried by The Hollywood Reporter. “James and Peter 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 said. “We’re grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand.”
Reuters reported that Latcham will take over on December 1 and lead DC’s film, television and animation slate, overseeing its creative pipeline, production, talent and strategy. Before joining DC, Latcham served as a senior vice president of production and development at Marvel Studios, where he produced early Marvel Cinematic Universe hits including Iron Man and The Avengers.
What Latcham inherits, and what stays uncertain
The biggest question now is whether Latcham keeps Gunn and Safran’s slate or starts over. The Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, which Gunn directed, is due in July 2027 with Corenswet returning, and The Batman: Part II remains on the schedule. A Superman spin-off miniseries, The People v. Gorilla Grodd, starring Skyler Gisondo as Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen, has already been filmed.
Gunn had also discussed a Batman film titled The Brave and the Bold and a new Wonder Woman film, though it is unclear how many of those projects will continue under the new leadership. Skydance said Gunn and Safran would “ensure a smooth, collaborative transition”, and the studio’s statement stressed a commitment to fans as it builds “the next generation of DC storytelling”.
The shakeup lands in a week when big-screen spectacle is already dominating the conversation, after Godzilla Minus Zero’s record opening topped the North American box office. It also comes as entertainment’s other giant release approaches, with the GTA VI pre-load begins Tuesday ahead of the game’s 19 November launch.
Gunn is not leaving DC entirely
Gunn confirmed the news himself in a 9 November statement on Threads, thanking supporters and calling the job a “dream come true” but also “trying, to say the least”. He wrote that he disliked “the at-times corporate nature of the job” and found it difficult dividing his time between projects he was passionate about and the demands of running a studio.
“So, yes, 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. He added that he is writing another DC project and that the pair have been engaged on it, writing: “We’ll see where it goes after that.”
USA Today reported Gunn’s statement and noted that he wrote and directed the Guardians of the Galaxy films for Marvel before moving to DC. Skydance said both men will continue working as filmmakers and producers, with Man of Tomorrow their most immediate project.
Frequently asked questions
Who is replacing James Gunn and Peter Safran at DC Studios?
Jeremy Latcham, a former Marvel Studios executive, will become president and chief creative officer of DC Studios on 1 December 2026.
Why did James Gunn and Peter Safran leave DC Studios?
Skydance, the new owner of Warner Bros. Discovery, decided to move in a new direction weeks after completing its takeover on 6 October. Gunn said he was relieved to return to filmmaking and disliked the corporate side of running a studio.
Will James Gunn still work on DC movies?
Yes. Gunn is directing the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, due in July 2027, and said he is writing another DC project. He and Safran will continue as filmmakers and producers.
What happens to the DC Universe Gunn built?
That is still unclear. Man of Tomorrow and The Batman: Part II remain on the slate, and The People v. Gorilla Grodd has already been filmed, but projects such as The Brave and the Bold and a new Wonder Woman film have no confirmed future under Latcham.
When did Gunn and Safran take over DC Studios?
They were hired in 2022 and relaunched DC’s films and television as the connected DC Universe in 2024, beginning with Creature Commandos and the 2025 film Superman.
