DC Studios shake-up: James Gunn and Peter Safran exit, Skydance appoints a Marvel veteran

Superman, Batman, and the rest of the DC heroes are set to receive a new leader as James Gunn and Peter Safran exit their roles as co-chief executives at DC Studios, following a four-year tenure leading the superhero studio. Their departure comes after just over a year since the release of their first film, "Superman," which marked the beginning of DC Studios' time under Skydance Motion Picture Group.

Gunn and Safran initially weathered Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with the merger of Warner Bros. Discovery with Paramount Pictures concluding as DC's "Clayface" was released. However, it appears that their tenure under the new corporate structure will not continue. Skydance chairman and chief executive David Ellison has appointed Jeremy Latchman, a Marvel Studios veteran, to guide DC Studios moving forward.

Ellison praised Gunn and Safran for their contributions, stating that they "launched a new era for DC Studios" and "led it through a period of real transformation."

Latchman's appointment comes into effect on December 1, but the studio's pipeline of projects under production ensures that Gunn and Safran's influence will persist. Currently, Gunn is in post-production for the "Superman" follow-up, "Man of Tomorrow," while other upcoming releases include "The People v. Gorilla Grodd" and "The Batman: Part II." Despite the change in leadership, the groundwork set by Gunn and Safran will be carried on.

Gunn and Safran's tenure at DC Studios has been characterized by unique comic book adaptations and genre-bending projects like "Clayface," which blended superhero elements with horror. The film grossed $109 million at the box office so far. Earlier this year, "Supergirl" struggled, marking a significant setback in their second release. Latchman will assume the roles of president and chief creative officer of DC Studios, reporting to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group.

Goldberg and Greenstein emphasized Latchman's deep respect for the DC brand and its passionate fanbase. They noted that Gunn's most successful DC film, "Superman," adopted a comedic tone different from previous adaptations. Gunn expressed his excitement to return to storytelling and continue "Clark and Lex's journey in 'Man of Tomorrow'" in a joint statement. Latchman, who had previously distanced himself from the superhero genre, commented on his pride in being part of DC's next era.