DC Studios is undergoing its biggest leadership change since the company was reorganized four years ago. James Gunn and Peter Safran will step away from their executive positions at the studio on December 1, 2026, with former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham taking over as President and Chief Creative Officer.
The change was officially announced by Skydance on November 9, ending Gunn and Safran’s four-year run as the executives responsible for overseeing DC’s film, television and animation strategy.
But the announcement does not mean either filmmaker is leaving DC.
Skydance says Gunn and Safran will instead return full time to their creative work, continuing to develop and produce DC projects while Latcham takes control of the studio’s broader creative and business pipeline.
Jeremy Latcham Will Lead DC Studios Starting December 1
Jeremy Latcham officially takes over DC Studios on December 1, 2026.
His title will be President and Chief Creative Officer, giving him oversight of DC’s film, television and animation slate.
According to Skydance, Latcham will oversee the studio’s creative pipeline, production, talent and strategy and will report to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein.
That effectively makes Latcham the central executive responsible for guiding the next phase of DC’s screen adaptations.
James Gunn and Peter Safran Are Leaving Their Executive Roles After Four Years
Gunn and Safran took control of DC Studios in 2022, when they were appointed to reorganize Warner Bros.’ superhero division around a unified creative direction.
Their tenure lasted four years.
In announcing the change, Skydance said the pair had helped “reset” the studio’s foundation and establish a new slate of interconnected projects.
Their leadership included projects such as Superman, Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface.
The biggest theatrical centerpiece of that strategy was Gunn’s Superman, which grossed more than $618 million worldwide, according to Skydance.
James Gunn Is Not Leaving the DC Universe
The most important distinction in today’s announcement is that James Gunn is leaving his executive position, not DC itself.
Gunn will continue writing and directing projects inside the DC universe.
His next major film is Man of Tomorrow, the follow-up to Superman, which continues the story of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor.
Skydance confirms that Gunn remains the film’s writer and director, while Gunn and Peter Safran will both continue serving as producers.
The movie is currently in post-production and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.
Gunn and Safran also remain involved as producers on The Batman Part II, which is currently in production.
So while the corporate hierarchy is changing substantially, projects already associated with Gunn and Safran are not simply being abandoned.
Gunn Says He Wants to Return to Making Stories
In their joint statement, Gunn and Safran said they were proud of what the team had built during their four years leading DC Studios.
They also made clear that returning to hands-on creative work is a major part of their next chapter.
The pair said they were excited to return to what originally attracted them to the job: telling stories, including the next chapter involving Clark Kent and Lex Luthor in Man of Tomorrow.
Separate reporting on Gunn’s own comments indicates that the executive side of running DC had become demanding and left him with less time for creative work and his personal life.
That provides important context for the transition: Gunn is not publicly framing the move as an exit from DC storytelling, but as a move away from the corporate responsibilities attached to running an entire studio.
Jeremy Latcham Was Part of Marvel Studios’ Early Success
Latcham arrives at DC with extensive superhero experience.
He joined Marvel Studios in 2004 and eventually became Senior Vice President of Production and Development, working closely with Kevin Feige during the establishment and rapid expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
His credits and executive involvement include major franchises such as:
Iron Man,
The Avengers,
Guardians of the Galaxy,
and Spider-Man.
That makes his move to DC particularly notable.
Latcham was present during the period when Marvel developed the interconnected cinematic model that later influenced virtually every major superhero franchise in Hollywood.
He also already has a creative history with James Gunn through Guardians of the Galaxy, meaning the transition is not being handed to an executive unfamiliar with Gunn’s approach.
Latcham Says Leading DC Is a Major Responsibility
In his first statement following the announcement, Latcham described DC’s characters as some of the most recognizable figures in American popular culture.
He said the opportunity to guide those characters for longtime fans while introducing them to new audiences was a responsibility he did not take lightly.
Skydance executives Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein emphasized a similar point, saying DC’s fanbase would play a central role in how projects are developed under Latcham.
The company says every film and television project will move through the creative process with that audience in mind.
What Happens to the Existing DCU Plan?
This is the biggest unanswered question following the announcement.
When Gunn and Safran unveiled their DC strategy, they presented a long-term interconnected universe spanning movies, television and animation.
Jeremy Latcham will now inherit that pipeline.
However, Skydance has not announced a cancellation of the existing DCU, nor has it said that projects currently in development will automatically be rebooted or discarded.
The official announcement instead emphasizes continuity and a collaborative transition between Gunn, Safran and Latcham.
That means claims that the current DC Universe has been “cancelled” or that another full reboot is already planned would go beyond what has actually been announced.
What is confirmed is that the executive authority behind the franchise is changing.
Several Major DC Projects Are Already Moving Forward
The transition happens while numerous DC projects are already far into production.
Man of Tomorrow is in post-production and arrives July 9, 2027.
The Batman Part II, starring Robert Pattinson, is currently in production, with Gunn and Safran serving as producers.
On television, Skydance highlighted Lanterns, as well as the upcoming eight-episode HBO Max series The People v. Gorilla Grodd, which has completed filming and is expected in 2027.
These productions mean Latcham is not taking over an empty studio.
He will inherit an active pipeline containing projects developed under Gunn and Safran as well as whatever new directions Skydance chooses for DC in the years ahead.
The Change Comes After Skydance Took Control
The leadership change also comes shortly after Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Reuters reports that Skydance completed the roughly $110 billion transaction last month, placing DC Studios under a new corporate structure led by David Ellison.
That context matters because Gunn and Safran were originally appointed under Warner Bros. Discovery leadership.
The arrival of a new parent company created the possibility of significant executive changes, and DC Studios is now undergoing one of the most visible examples.
Skydance Chairman and CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz praised Gunn and Safran’s work while describing Latcham as someone they trust to guide the next generation of DC storytelling.
DC’s Future Will Now Be Shaped by a Marvel Veteran
The symbolism of the appointment is difficult to ignore.
One of the executives involved in establishing the early Marvel Cinematic Universe is now taking charge of DC Studios.
But Latcham is inheriting a very different situation from the Marvel Studios he joined in 2004.
DC already has an active cinematic universe, established filmmakers, ongoing television productions, separate projects such as The Batman, and a slate partially developed under Gunn and Safran.
His job will not simply be to recreate Marvel’s formula.
It will be to determine what parts of the foundation built over the past four years should continue and where DC Studios should go next under Skydance.
And for the first time since 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran will no longer be the executives making that final call.
FAQ
Are James Gunn and Peter Safran leaving DC Studios?
They are leaving their leadership positions, but they are not leaving DC completely. Both will return to working full time on creative projects as filmmakers and producers.
Who is replacing James Gunn and Peter Safran?
Former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham will become President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Studios.
When does Jeremy Latcham take over DC Studios?
Latcham officially begins the role on December 1, 2026.
Who is Jeremy Latcham?
Latcham is a former Marvel Studios executive who worked on major MCU franchises including Iron Man, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man.
Is James Gunn still making Man of Tomorrow?
Yes. Gunn remains the writer and director of Man of Tomorrow, while he and Peter Safran continue as producers.
Has the DC Universe been cancelled?
No such announcement has been made. Skydance has announced a leadership transition, not the cancellation of the existing DCU.
What will Jeremy Latcham control at DC Studios?
He will oversee the film, television and animation slate, including creative development, production, talent and strategy.
