Skydance Replaces Gunn and Safran with Marvel Veteran Jeremy Latcham at DC Studios

Key points

• James Gunn and Peter Safran are exiting their roles as co-chairmen and chief executives of DC Studios, effective December 1, 2026.
• Jeremy Latcham, who previously worked on 'Iron Man' and 'The Avengers' at Marvel Studios, is taking over as president and chief creative officer.
• Gunn and Safran will remain involved in producing 'Superman: Man of Tomorrow' (2027) and 'The Batman: Part II' (2028).
• The leadership change follows a mixed performance record, including the box office success of 'Superman' and the underperformance of 'Supergirl'.
• Latcham will report to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of the Skydance Motion Picture Group.

Background

Gunn and Safran were appointed in 2022 by former Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to create a cohesive DC Universe comparable to Marvel's. Their tenure included the successful 2025 release of 'Superman' and the HBO Max series 'Peacemaker,' but also the box office disappointment of 'Supergirl.' Recent archive coverage indicated they had reassured new owner David Ellison about the future of the DCU just weeks before this announcement.

How outlets are covering it

The Los Angeles Times highlights the mixed box office record, noting 'Superman's' $618 million gross versus 'Supergirl's' $126.5 million performance. Deadline emphasizes the structural change, noting that DC now reports to the Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs rather than directly to the CEO. Variety focuses on Latcham's Marvel credentials, with Skydance CEO David Ellison praising his role in defining the modern superhero movie. All sources agree the departure was unexpected given recent assurances of their continued leadership.

Why it matters

This leadership change signals a strategic pivot for DC Studios under new ownership, aiming to leverage Latcham's experience in building a cohesive franchise model similar to Marvel's. It reflects the broader industry trend of consolidating creative control to stabilize superhero franchises after periods of inconsistent performance.

What to watch

Latcham will oversee the creative pipeline for film, television, and animation starting December 1. The upcoming slate includes 'Superman: Man of Tomorrow' in July 2027 and 'The Batman: Part II' in February 2028. Industry analysts will watch how Latcham navigates the existing 'Gods and Monsters' roadmap and whether projects like 'Swamp Thing' or 'Batman Brave and the Bold' advance.