James Gunn and Peter Safran Step Down at DC Studios, Marvel Vet Takes Over

James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as the heads of DC Studios after four years running its movies, television and animation. Jeremy Latcham, a producer from the early days of Marvel Studios, takes over as president and chief creative officer on December 1, TheWrap reports.

It is one of the first major leadership changes since Skydance took control of Warner Bros. Gunn and Safran aren't leaving DC completely, though. Both are returning to full-time creative work on DC projects.

Who is Jeremy Latcham?

Latcham was part of the original team that built Marvel Studios under Kevin Feige. His credits include Iron Man, The Avengers and Tom Holland's Spider-Man movies. He also worked alongside Gunn on the Guardians of the Galaxy films, so the two already have a long history together.

At DC, Latcham will oversee the entire slate of film, television and animation, including the creative pipeline, production, talent and strategy. He reports to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, the co-chairs of the Skydance Motion Picture Group.

"DC's pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture," Latcham said in a statement. He also called the position a "massive responsibility."

What did James Gunn say?

Gunn sounded more relieved than disappointed. In a statement shared on social media, he wrote, "I will miss the people around me, and I will miss being the co-caretaker of these great characters, but I'm also incredibly relieved and excited to get back to pure filmmaking."

Skydance executives David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz thanked the pair for their "passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand." They also said they expect a "smooth, collaborative transition."

What happens to Superman and the DCU?

Gunn's next major project is the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, which is expected in 2027 and centers on Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. According to TheWrap, Gunn and Safran will now concentrate on finishing it, along with other DC projects. The Hollywood Reporter says both are also expected to remain producers on Matt Reeves' The Batman Part II.

Their four years in charge delivered real highs and some disappointments. Superman earned $618 million worldwide, while Supergirl made $126.4 million this summer, which TheWrap described as falling flat. Clayface had reached $109 million after three weekends. On television, they launched Creature Commandos and more Peacemaker, and Lanterns is still on the way.

Will the DCU plan change?

Nobody has said so yet. Goldberg and Greenstein said every DC film and show will be "ushered from start to finish" under Latcham, which sounds like continuity. Still, a new executive usually means a fresh look at the release schedule. Just a few weeks ago, Gunn was still teasing Batman casting news for the DCU.

My read is that this could work out well for fans. Gunn gets to direct full time, which is what he does best, and Latcham has already helped build a shared universe from scratch once before. (Somebody please tell Krypto he still has a job.)

Should Gunn stay focused on directing Superman movies? Tell us in the comments.