DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran stepped down from their roles on Monday, November 9, 2026. The announcement follows the Oct. 6 completion of a merger between the studio's parent company, Warner Bros., and Skydance. Jeremy Latcham, a former executive at Marvel Studios, was appointed as the new president and chief creative officer of DC Studios.
Gunn and Safran were hired in 2022 to oversee a creative reboot of the DC superhero franchise following several box office failures, such as 2017's "Justice League." Under their leadership, the studio launched the "DC Universe" shared world in 2024. This era began with the animated series "Creature Commandos" and included the 2025 "Superman" reboot, which grossed over $600 million globally.
In a statement on Threads, Gunn said he would return to "pure filmmaking," citing the time-consuming and "corporate nature" of the studio head role. Skydance CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz thanked the outgoing executives for "resetting the foundation" of the brand. The leadership change comes after a mixed box office period for the studio; while "Superman" was successful, the 2026 spin-off "Supergirl" was reported as a box office failure.
The leadership change introduces uncertainty for a slate of planned projects. While the 2025 "Superman" film earned $600 million, the subsequent "Supergirl" film flopped and the R-rated "Clayface" earned $100 million on a $44 million budget. These fluctuations impact the financial stability of the studio and its ability to compete with Marvel Studios, which the new president, Jeremy Latcham, previously helped lead.
The change in leadership will likely be noticed by viewers through potential shifts in the tone and release schedule of future content. Gunn had previously outlined plans for several high-profile features, including "The Brave and the Bold" (Batman) and a new "Wonder Woman" film. It is currently not reported how many of these unreleased projects will proceed under Latcham's direction. However, projects already filmed, such as the series "The People v. Gorilla Grodd," will likely maintain their near-term schedules.
The appointment of Latcham places a veteran from its primary competitor, Marvel, at its helm. This follows years of revolving leadership at the studio, including tenures by Walter Hamada and others. The immediate next step for the franchise is the release of "Man of Tomorrow," a "Superman" sequel directed by Gunn and starring David Corenswet, which remains scheduled for July 2027. Gunn also indicated he is writing another potential project for the studio, though its future is not yet determined.