James Gunn's DCU Exit Deals A Huge Blow To Upcoming Superman Series

Published Nov 13, 2026, 11:00 PM EST

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After a massive shake-up, it has been confirmed that both James Gunn and Peter Safran have exited from their leadership roles at DC Studios. Although Gunn and Safran had originally signed four-year contracts starting November 1, 2022, their departure is surprising because they were expected to have a longer run. With this massive new shift, it is hard not to wonder how the upcoming Superman series will be affected.

Although Skydance has not officially addressed the reason behind this shift, it can primarily be attributed to the underwhelming box office performances of movies like Clayface and Supergirl. Gunn, too, has taken to social media (via Instagram) to express his relief surrounding his exit. He even confirmed that he and Safran are not done with DC or its superheroes and the characters they have set up will live on.

As reports confirm, Man of Tomorrow has already entered post-production, suggesting that it will not be heavily impacted by this new change in leadership. However, the same cannot be said about the upcoming Superman spin-off series, The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd. The project had already raised quite a few eyebrows when it was first announced, and now its future seems even more tricky.

DC's Latest Universe Shake-Up Makes The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd A Lot Less Exciting

Created by Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd has already finished filming and is set to eye a 2027 release. However, this new change in DC's leadership seems to dampen its appeal in more ways than one. Although The People VS. Gorilla Grodd always seemed like a strange genre-bender, it was being treated as a vital connective tissue in the overarching franchise.

However, after Gunn's exit, it seems likely that his "Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters" blueprint will soon be discarded, with Skydance focusing more on fast-pacing projects with much wider appeal. While a new Justice League movie would still be exciting, more experimental additions like The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd would likely have no place in DC's on-screen future.

The comedic mockumentary interpretation of Grodd in the upcoming series was also expected to graduate to a mainline Flash or Justice League antagonist. Similar to Peacemaker and Creature Commandos, Gunn could have elevated Grodd into a formidable villain in the DCU's larger narrative. However, now, it is hard not to wonder if Grodd would fit into the Studios' long-term blockbuster plans.

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Even the upcoming show's Daily Planet ensemble, including Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Wendell Pierce (Perry White), Beck Bennett (Steve Lombard), and Mikaela Hoover (Cat Grant), seems to be in a limbo after the new shift. Gunn's involvement almost promised a more cohesive and interconnected future for the crew.

While they will still retain their roles in Man of Tomorrow, their future beyond the franchise's 2027 run seems uncertain. This, in turn, makes The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd a lot less interesting.

The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd Was A Risky Venture Even Before DC's Changes

While novel and distinct additions to the superhero genre are always welcomed, The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd always seemed like a strange and risky way of expanding the overarching franchise. Superhero fatigue still lingers, which is why the genre cannot stop reinventing itself to remain relevant and engaging. However, The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd felt like a wild swing for the franchise.

The show's satirical true-crime mockumentary approach risked cutting Grodd's credibility as a menacing villain even before he faced a superhero on the big screen. Experimental superhero spin-offs are also starting to become increasingly hard to consume because their ambition often outweighs their longevity. Take, for instance, shows like Wonder Man that earned critical acclaim but struggled to leave their mark.

Considering how the DCU has been far less experimental than the MCU, The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd is still exciting. It is hard not to be curious about what it will bring to the table with its offbeat idea. At the same time, though, the show demands careful optimism, given how the Superman spin-off series could be the last of its kind after James Gunn's departure.

The People v. Gorilla Grodd

Set in the same cinematic world as James Gunn's hit 2025 Superman feature film, this upcoming mockumentary miniseries centers around Gorilla Grodd's conviction for the murder of his father, a criminal case reopened by the Daily Planet's own Jimmy Olsen.