November 9, 2026 HOLLYWOOD, CA – In a stunning shake-up of the superhero movie industry, James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios after four years leading the company. Skydance Motion Picture Group announced Monday that former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham will take over as president and chief creative officer of DC Studios on December 1, 2026.
The announcement comes following Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and raises significant questions about the future of the DC Universe that Gunn and Safran have spent the past four years developing.
Gunn and Safran took control of DC Studios in 2022, tasked with creating a unified cinematic universe that could compete with Marvel Studios. Their plans included a fresh approach to Superman, new interpretations of classic DC characters, and an interconnected collection of films and television programs.
Their tenure produced the successful Superman (2025), which grossed more than $618 million worldwide, along with television productions including Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, and Lanterns.
However, the studio also experienced disappointing box-office results. Supergirl struggled commercially in 2026, earning approximately $126 million worldwide. The horror-inspired Clayface has earned approximately $109 million worldwide since its October release.
While the leadership change follows these mixed results, Skydance has not publicly identified box-office performance as the reason for replacing Gunn and Safran.
In its official announcement, Skydance praised the departing executives for their contributions to the company and confirmed that both would return to filmmaking and producing.
Following the announcement, Gunn addressed his departure on social media.
Gunn acknowledged that running DC Studios had been difficult, particularly balancing the corporate responsibilities of a studio executive with his passion for filmmaking.
He described himself as “incredibly relieved” to return to making movies rather than managing the studio.
Despite leaving his executive position, Gunn is not finished with DC.
He will continue his work on Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to Superman, scheduled for theatrical release on July 9, 2027. Gunn also revealed that he has been engaged to write another DC project.
Gunn and Safran will continue to be involved in DC productions as filmmakers and producers.
The new head of DC Studios is hardly a stranger to superhero movies.
Jeremy Latcham spent more than a decade at Marvel Studios, where he helped develop some of the films that established the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
His credits include:
- Iron Man (2008)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Latcham previously worked with Gunn on Guardians of the Galaxy, providing an existing professional relationship between the incoming executive and the departing leadership.
After leaving Marvel Studios in 2017, Latcham established his own production company and worked on projects including Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
As president and chief creative officer of DC Studios, Latcham will oversee development, production, talent, and creative strategy across the studio’s film, television, and animation projects.
He will report to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group.
The biggest question facing DC fans is whether Latcham will continue Gunn’s plans or introduce an entirely new direction.
Gunn and Safran originally envisioned a connected DC Universe built around a new generation of films and television series. Their approach placed Superman at the center while introducing audiences to both familiar and lesser-known DC characters.
With Latcham assuming control, the future of that long-term strategy is uncertain.
Several projects remain in development or production, including Man of Tomorrow and The Batman Part II.
There has been no official announcement of a complete reboot, and no confirmation that Latcham intends to abandon the established DC Universe.
Nevertheless, a change in leadership of this magnitude could affect which projects receive approval, how films and television programs connect, and which characters become priorities moving forward.
DC’s cinematic history has been marked by changing creative directions, shifting leadership, and repeated efforts to establish a successful shared universe.
Gunn and Safran were originally brought in to provide the stability and creative direction that had often been missing from previous DC film initiatives.
Now, just four years later, DC Studios is preparing for another leadership transition.
For comic book fans, the appointment of a former Marvel executive is particularly interesting. Latcham helped build the interconnected storytelling approach that made Marvel Studios successful. Whether he applies a similar philosophy to DC or chooses something entirely different remains to be seen.
What is certain is that James Gunn and Peter Safran’s time running DC Studios is ending, although their work with DC characters will continue.
The question now is whether Jeremy Latcham can give DC Studios the long-term stability its superheroes deserve.
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