In a surprise executive shuffle, James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as CEOs and chairmen of DC Studios. Jeremy Latcham, a Marvel veteran, will take charge as president and chief creative officer. Gunn and Safran will now return full time to creative work after four years at the top of the studio.
A surprise exit after four years
The move is unexpected because James Gunn and Peter Safran had been named part of David Ellison’s leadership team at the newly renamed Skydance. That came after Paramount closed its USD 111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery in October.The duo were appointed in 2022 by former Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who wanted a true rival to Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their time at DC has produced mixed commercial results.
How DC fared under Gunn and Safran
They restarted the DC Universe with last summer’s ‘Superman’, which did relatively well with USD 618 million globally. July’s ‘Supergirl’ was a big flop, earning USD 126 million against a USD 170 million budget. ‘Clayface’, a darker R-rated body-horror thriller, did modestly this fall with USD 109 million on a USD 44 million budget.The pair also took DC to streaming, with ‘Peacemaker’ and ‘Lanterns’ made for HBO Max.
What is next for DC
James Gunn will write and direct ‘Superman: Man of Tomorrow’, due next summer. ‘The Batman: Part II’, starring Robert Pattinson, is set for 2028. On television, the 2027 series ‘The People v. Gorilla Grodd’ stars Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, his character from ‘Superman’, and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd.
What James Gunn and Peter Safran said
According to the Variety report, in a joint statement, the two looked back on their tenure and ahead to their return to storytelling.“Four years ago, we set out 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 immensely proud of the team that turned that ambition into something real, including the actors, crews and executives we had the opportunity to collaborate with. We’ve shared a creative history with Jeremy going back to Marvel, and we’re eager to see the perspective he brings to DC’s next chapter. We’re excited to return to what drew us to this job in the first place, which is telling the stories we love, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s journey in ‘Man of Tomorrow.’”
Reaction from Ellison and Kreiz
Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz praised the duo for “[launching] a new era for DC Studios and [leading] it through a period of real transformation.”“We’re 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 to both, and we have complete confidence 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 to doubling down on our commitment to fans.”
Who is Jeremy Latcham?
Jeremy Latcham will lead DC’s film, television and animation slate and oversee its creative pipeline, production, talent and strategy. He will report to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group.He joined Marvel Studios in 2004 and rose to senior VP of production and development, working closely with Kevin Feige to launch the MCU. His credits include 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 start Latcham Pictures, which had first-look deals at 20th Century Fox, Hasbro and Wonder Project. The company produced ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ and ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’. He later held an overall deal at Hasbro Entertainment, where he was developing a ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ sequel and an ‘Action Man’ film. He was also producing the Lionsgate adaptation of ‘Naruto’ with director Destin Daniel Cretton.
What Skydance’s leadership said about him
“Jeremy brings a deep reverence for DC and its passionate fanbase, recognising that they are the very foundation of this storied, multigenerational brand,” said Goldberg and Greenstein. “Under his leadership, every film and television show will be ushered from start to finish through the prism of the legions of fans who love and champion it. Jeremy’s track record exemplifies the excellence he will bring to building out DC and the many beloved characters within it.”
Jeremy Latcham on his new role
“DC’s pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture. I’ve had the privilege to help bring some of the most celebrated superhero stories to life on the big screen, and I’m excited and honoured for the opportunity to now lead DC Studios into its next era. The chance to steward the incredible cast of DC characters to the screen in a way that excites lifelong fans while introducing their timeless stories to the next generation is a massive responsibility that I do not take lightly,” said Latcham. “I am grateful to Dana and Josh for putting their trust in me. I can’t wait to work night and day alongside filmmakers, comic book creators, artists and storytellers of every kind, across film, television and animation, to build something ambitious for long-time DC fans and newcomers alike.”
