Skydance replaces James Gunn and Peter Safran as DC Studios chiefs following Warner Bros. takeover

James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-heads of DC Studios after four years, Skydance Motion Picture Group announced on Monday.

Their departure marks another major shake-up for the superhero franchise following Skydance's takeover of Warner Bros, just a year after Gunn's "Superman" reached cinemas.

Who will replace Gunn and Safran?

Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison has chosen Jeremy Latchman, a former Marvel Studios executive, to lead DC Studios. He is set to become president and chief creative officer of DC Studios on December 1.

Latchman will oversee the next phase of DC's film and television business, which includes characters such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

He was involved in major Marvel productions including "Iron Man" and "The Avengers," and previously worked with Gunn and Safran on Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie.

What did Gunn and Safran achieve?

Gunn and Safran took charge of DC Studios in 2022, tasked with rebuilding the franchise and creating a more unified cinematic universe.

Their first film, "Superman," earned nearly $619 million (€553 million) worldwide in 2025.

But their second release, "Supergirl," flopped in June 2026, taking around $126 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $170 million. The horror-inspired "Clayface" followed in October.

Overall, DC has struggled to match immense profits and cultural impact made by Marvel in the early years of its own cinematic universe.

"James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation, resetting the foundation and building a slate we're incredibly proud of," Ellison said in a statement.

"We're grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand."

Gunn is currently completing "Man of Tomorrow," a sequel to "Superman." Other DC projects in development include "The Batman: Part II" and the television series "The People v. Gorilla Grodd."

Although Gunn and Safran will no longer oversee DC Studios' long-term plans, several projects developed under their leadership remain in production.

Was Gunn's Superman too 'woke' for conservatives?

Gunn's "Superman" sparked a political controversy in 2025 after the director described the superhero as an immigrant and emphasized themes of human kindness.

Conservative commentators accused the film of being "woke."

Skydance CEO Ellison has cultivated close ties with US President Donald Trump. Ellison has acknowledged having a good relationship with the administration but denied politicizing the company.

There is no evidence that the controversy surrounding "Superman" played a role in Gunn and Safran's replacement.