In a surprise management shakeup, James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as CEOs and presidents of DC Studios. They will be replaced by Jeremy Latcham, who will serve as president and creative director.
The departure of Gunn and Safran is unexpected as they were named to David Ellison’s business leadership team at the recently renamed Skydance when the Warner Bros. acquisition. Discovery by Paramount for $111 billion was finalized in October. After four years at the helm of DC, returning the studio’s comic book division to mixed business results, Gunn and Safran will return to creative work full-time.
Gunn and Safran were appointed in 2022 by former Warner Bros. CEO. Discovery, David Zaslav, with the mission of creating a true rival to Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. Under their leadership, the duo revived the languishing DC Universe with last summer’s “Superman,” a relative success with $618 million worldwide, then stumbled with July’s “Supergirl,” a massive bomb with $126 million on a $170 million budget. “Clayface,” a darker, R-rated body horror thriller, performed modestly this fall with $109 million on a $44 million budget. Meanwhile, they’ve expanded the comic book empire to streaming with its shows “Peacemaker” and “Lanterns” for HBO Max.
DC’s upcoming big-screen projects include next summer’s “Superman: Man of Tomorrow,” written and directed by Gunn, and 2028’s “The Batman: Part II,” starring Robert Pattinson. On the television side, there is the 2027 series “The People v. Gorilla Grodd,” hosted by Skyler Gisondo as his “Superman” character Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd.
“Four years ago, we decided to unite DC under one creative vision. In that time, we helped restore ‘Superman’ to the heart of DC, while opening new doors and telling new stories in film and television with ‘Peacemaker,’ ‘Creature Commandos,’ ‘Lanterns’ and ‘Clayface,'” Gunn and Safran said. “We’re incredibly proud of the team that turned that ambition into something real, including the cast, crew, and executives we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with. We’ve shared a creative history with Jeremy since Marvel, and we can’t wait to see the perspective he will bring to DC’s next chapter. We’re excited to return to what drew us to this work in the first place, which tells the stories we love, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s journey in ‘Man of Tomorrow.’
Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz praised Gunn and Safran for “launching a new era for DC Studios and leading it through a period of true transformation.”
“We are grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand,” Ellison and Kreiz said in a statement. “Jeremy has been a long-time creative partner for both, and we are confident that James and Peter will ensure a smooth, collaborative transition and continue this work with care. We look forward to working with Jeremy to build the next generation of DC storytelling and doubling down on our commitment to fans.”
Latcham, a Marvel veteran whose credits include “Iron Man,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “The Avengers,” will lead DC’s film, television and animation slate, overseeing the creative pipeline, as well as production, talent and strategy. He will report to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-presidents of Skydance Motion Picture Group.
“Jeremy brings a deep respect to DC and its passionate fans, recognizing that they are the very foundation of this multi-generational brand,” Goldberg and Greenstein said. “Under his leadership, every film and television show will be presented from start to finish through the lens of the legions of fans who love and champion him. Jeremy’s journey exemplifies the excellence he will bring to building DC and the many beloved characters within it.”
Latcham joined Marvel Studios in 2004 and became senior vice president of production and development, working closely with president and CCO Kevin Feige to launch the MCU. Latcham served as associate producer on “Iron Man,” co-producer on “Iron Man 2” and executive producer on “The Avengers,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
Latcham left Marvel in 2017 to found Latcham Pictures, which has first-look deals with 20th Century Fox, Hasbro and Wonder Project and produced “Bad Times at the El Royale” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” Recently, he signed an overall deal with Hasbro Entertainment, where he was developing a “Dungeons & Dragons” sequel and an “Action Man” movie, and also produced the Lionsgate adaptation of director Destin Daniel Cretton’s “Naruto.”
“The pantheon of DC characters are among the most iconic in American popular culture. I have had the privilege of helping bring some of the most famous superhero stories to life on the big screen, and I am excited and honored to have the opportunity to lead DC Studios into its next era. The chance to lead DC’s incredible cast of characters to the screen in a way that excites longtime fans while introducing their timeless stories to the next generation is a huge one responsibility that I do not take lightly,” Latcham said. “I’m grateful to Dana and Josh for putting their trust in me. I look forward to working night and day alongside filmmakers, comic book creators, artists and storytellers of all kinds, from film to television and animation, to build something ambitious for longtime DC fans and newcomers alike.”
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