James Gunn says the job of running DC Studios was harder than fans knew. In a letter shared on Threads after the studio announced that he and Peter Safran will step down as heads of DC Studios, he describes the role as “trying, to say the least,” and says he’s relieved to return to pure filmmaking. The handover takes effect on December 1.
Gunn is blunt about what wore him down. As IGN reports, he wrote that he disliked the at-times corporate nature of the role and thanked Safran for taking the brunt of it. He also said his ADHD hyperfocus struggled most with splitting time between projects he loves and the studio-head duties that came with the title, and that he gave up the short breaks he’d normally take between films. He apologised to his partner, Jennifer Holland, for the time lost.
The letter isn’t all relief, though. Gunn named releasing Superman and Clayface, making Peacemaker and reading the scripts for The People v. Gorilla Grodd among his highs. He called Man of Tomorrow the best filmmaking experience of his life so far and described Safran as the smartest and most competent person he knows. “I’m glad I took the job,” he wrote.
Who takes over
The announcement came from Skydance. IndieWire reports that Jeremy Latcham, who helped shape the Marvel Cinematic Universe, becomes president and chief creative officer of DC Studios on December 1, 2026. According to Variety, Latcham will lead DC’s film, television and animation slate, overseeing the creative pipeline, production, talent and strategy. His Marvel credits include Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Avengers.
The timing surprised people because Gunn and Safran had been kept on after Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery closed in October. In a statement, Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz said the pair had launched a new era for DC Studios and reset its foundation. Gunn and Safran said they share a creative history with Latcham going back to Marvel and are eager to see what he brings to DC. The exact reasons behind the shake-up haven’t been explained.
What stays on the slate
Gunn and Safran aren’t leaving DC altogether. IGN reports that Man of Tomorrow, the Superman sequel, is still due next year, and Gunn’s letter says it arrives this summer. He adds that he’s writing another DC project, and that the characters the pair set up “will live on.” The Hollywood Reporter says both remain producers on The Batman: Part II, which IGN lists for February 18, 2028.
Beyond those titles, the picture is hazier. The People v. Gorilla Grodd is still in the works, there’s no official word on a Wonder Woman film, and DC Studios hasn’t named its next Batman. With Latcham in charge from December, IGN expects big changes, though no specific ones have been announced.
When does Jeremy Latcham take over DC Studios?
Latcham starts as president and chief creative officer on December 1, 2026, the same date Gunn and Safran leave their leadership roles.
Are James Gunn and Peter Safran done with DC?
No. Gunn says they have Man of Tomorrow out next summer and that he’s writing another DC project. The Hollywood Reporter says both remain producers on The Batman: Part II.
Is the DCU slate changing?
Nothing has been confirmed. Skydance hasn’t announced changes to the existing lineup, and the status of projects without release dates, such as The People v. Gorilla Grodd, will likely become clearer once Latcham starts.
