BREAKING: Massive news this morning, as we’ve learned that James Gunn and Peter Safran have stepped down from their roles at DC Studios.
Skydance Motion Picture Group today announced that Jeremy Latcham has been appointed President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Studios beginning Dec. 1, 2026. After four years in leadership roles, Gunn and Safran will return full-time to their creative work.
Latcham has been involved with various successful comic book adaptations, including Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man and The Avengers. Latcham will lead DC’s film, television and animation slate, overseeing the creative pipeline, along with production, talent and strategy.
This move comes after Clayface recently hit the box office. Though the film has grossed more than $109 million worldwide and counting, Dread’s Brad Miska theorized that wouldn’t be enough. Turns out, he was right. I was lukewarm about the film in my own review, feeling it didn’t have the punch it needed to make it a successful pic (box office notwithstanding).
I had thought Gunn and Safran may be on thin ice as the captains steering the ship at DC Studios. I did not, however, expect them to hit an iceberg so quickly.
Said David Ellison, Chairman and CEO, and Ynon Kreiz, Co-CEO, of Skydance: “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. We’re grateful for their passion, contributions, and commitment to this legendary brand. Jeremy has been a longtime creative partner to both, and we have complete confidence that James and Peter will ensure a smooth, collaborative transition and continue this work with care. We look forward to working with Jeremy to build the next generation of DC storytelling and to doubling down on our commitment to fans.”
Added Gunn and Safran: “Four years ago, we set out to unite DC under one creative vision. In that time, we helped restore Superman to the heart of DC, while opening new doors and telling new stories in film and television with Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface. We’re immensely proud of the team that turned that ambition into something real, including the actors, crews, and executives we had the opportunity to collaborate with. We’ve shared a creative history with Jeremy going back to Marvel, and we’re eager to see the perspective he brings to DC’s next chapter. We’re excited to return to what drew us to this job in the first place, which is telling the stories we love, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s journey in Man of Tomorrow.”
It’s great that Gunn and Safran are still at least involved with the studio. We can debate their leadership all day, but there’s no doubt that they’re talented filmmakers. Overall, I’ve enjoyed most of their output through DC, even if the projects haven’t all seen the expected success.
Still, we have to wonder…what does this mean for the studio’s horror slate? Will we see another Clayface? Swamp Thing? Constantine? Gunn comes from a genre background. Without him leading the way, would DC still push for horror-centric titles? After all, Latcham doesn’t scream “horror guy” to me. I’d love to be wrong, but that’s the vibe I’m getting, which means those projects could all be in trouble.
Said Goldberg and Greenstein, “Jeremy brings a deep reverence for DC and its passionate fanbase, recognizing that they are the very foundation of this storied, multigenerational brand. Under his leadership, every film and television show will be ushered from start to finish through the prism of the legions of fans who love and champion it. Jeremy’s track record exemplifies the excellence he will bring to building out DC and the many beloved characters within it.”
Added Latcham, “DC’s pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture. I’ve had the privilege to help bring some of the most celebrated superhero stories to life on the big screen, and I’m excited and honored for the opportunity to now lead DC Studios into its next era. The chance to steward the incredible cast of DC characters to the screen in a way that excites lifelong fans while introducing their timeless stories to the next generation is a massive responsibility that I do not take lightly. I am grateful to Dana and Josh for putting their trust in me. I can’t wait to work night and day alongside filmmakers, comic book creators, artists and storytellers of every kind, across film, television and animation, to build something ambitious for longtime DC fans and newcomers alike.”
At this time, the upcoming DC Studios film slate includes Man of Tomorrow, written and directed by James Gunn and produced by Gunn and Peter Safran. The film is currently in post-production and will arrive in theaters July 9, 2027. Man of Tomorrow continues the story of Clark Kent/Superman and Lex Luthor. Additionally, The Batman Part II, starring Robert Pattinson, is currently in production. Steven Soderbergh is finishing principal photography, with James Gunn and Peter Safran producing.
On the television side, Safran and Gunn brought to audiences the Emmy nominated series Peacemaker and Creature Commandos, and most recently executive produced the critically acclaimed hit, Lanterns. Expected in 2027, The People v. Gorilla Grodd, the eight-episode HBO Max series starring Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd has completed filming. Gunn and Safran serve as executive producers.
What a wild shake-up. We’ll need some time to wrap our heads around this.
Until then, stay tuned to Dread for more details as they come in.
Categorized:Comics / Books News