DC Studios leadership changes as Jeremy Latcham replaces James Gunn and Peter Safran
James Gunn and Peter Safran have been removed from their roles at DC Studios, with Marvel veteran Jeremy Latcham appointed as president and chief creative officer.
Warner Bros. Discovery announced that James Gunn and Peter Safran are no longer heading DC Studios. The company named Jeremy Latcham, formerly of Marvel Studios, as the new president and chief creative officer.
Gunn and Safran, who took over the studio in 2022, oversaw a mixed slate of films and television projects. Their first major film, "Superman," earned $618 million worldwide against a $225 million budget, but subsequent releases such as "Supergirl" generated $126 million on a $170 million budget, and "Clayface" earned $109 million against a $44 million budget, prompting concerns about profitability.
Industry observers noted that the duo emphasized lesser-known characters rather than established marquee heroes, a strategy that some insiders believe limited box-office appeal. Television efforts also produced varied results; while "The Penguin" performed well, other series like the second season of "Peacemaker" and the crime drama "Lanterns" did not sustain strong audience interest.
"The industry has taken away the wrong lessons from Marvel’s success. Higher budgets don’t equal quality storytelling," said a studio insider to Variety.
Gunn acknowledged the difficulty of balancing creative projects with studio responsibilities, writing on X after the announcement that his ADHD hyperfocus made it challenging to divide his time.
Both executives will remain involved with DC on a reduced basis. Gunn is slated to direct "Superman: Man of Tomorrow" next summer, and he and Safran will produce the 2027 series "The People v. Gorilla Grodd" and a new season of "Creature Commandos."
The upcoming film slate includes "Superman: Man of Tomorrow" and a sequel to "The Batman," scheduled for 2028. A planned "Wonder Woman" reboot has not moved forward, and future projects will be evaluated by Latcham.
"Jeremy is the kind of guy who would go to Comic-Con to get an autograph from someone, not someone who wants to be there signing autographs," said another source.
The leadership shift reflects Warner Bros. Discovery’s effort to stabilize the DC franchise after a period of frequent executive turnover and uneven commercial performance.