LOS ANGELES, November 11, 2026 — James Gunn is stepping away from his leadership position at DC Studios after four years overseeing the company’s creative direction, with Skydance appointing former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham as his successor. The leadership change, announced on November 9, will take effect on December 1, marking a significant transition for the DC Universe as Gunn prepares to return to full-time filmmaking.
Peter Safran, who has led DC Studios alongside Gunn, will also leave his leadership position. According to Skydance’s official announcement, both executives will return to their creative work after helping reshape the studio’s film, television and animation strategy.
Latcham has been appointed president and chief creative officer of DC Studios. His experience includes working on major Marvel productions, including Iron Man, The Avengers and Spider-Man: Homecoming. He also worked with Gunn on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
Key points
- James Gunn and Peter Safran are leaving their DC Studios leadership positions after four years.
- Jeremy Latcham will become president and chief creative officer on December 1, 2026.
- Gunn says he is looking forward to returning to filmmaking.
- His upcoming Man of Tomorrow and another DC project remain part of his creative plans.
- Skydance has not announced a complete reboot or cancellation of Gunn’s DC Universe.
Why is James Gunn leaving DC Studios?
Skydance announced the leadership transition following its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which brought DC Studios under the company’s new corporate structure.
Skydance chairman and chief executive David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz praised Gunn and Safran for their contributions, describing their tenure as a period of transformation for the studio.
The company did not describe the change as a dismissal or announce that either executive had been fired. Instead, its statement said they would step away from their leadership responsibilities and return to creative work.
Gunn also addressed his departure in a personal statement shared on social media. He said he was glad he had accepted the position but acknowledged that managing a major studio had been demanding.
He described the corporate responsibilities as challenging and said balancing studio leadership with his creative interests had been difficult.
Gunn added that he was excited to return to filmmaking. His comments suggest that leaving the executive position does not mean he is necessarily walking away from the DC franchise.
What happens to the DC Universe after Gunn’s departure?
One of the biggest questions surrounding the announcement concerns the future of the interconnected DC Universe that Gunn and Safran have been developing.
Their leadership brought a new creative direction to DC’s film and television projects, beginning with a broader plan to connect stories across different formats.
Gunn’s 2025 Superman film became an important release during their tenure, earning more than $618 million worldwide, according to industry reports.
However, the studio’s results have not been consistently successful. DC’s subsequent releases have faced different commercial outcomes, adding pressure to the company’s efforts to establish a competitive long-term franchise.
Latcham’s appointment brings a familiar name from Marvel’s earlier cinematic development into a leadership position at DC.
His experience in large-scale comic-book adaptations could prove valuable as the studio considers how to manage its upcoming productions, develop characters and maintain audience interest.
Nevertheless, Skydance has not announced a complete replacement plan for the DC Universe’s existing creative direction. It would therefore be premature to assume that the new leadership will immediately cancel or redesign the franchise.
Will James Gunn continue working on DC movies?
Gunn’s departure from studio leadership does not mean his involvement with DC is necessarily over.
His upcoming Man of Tomorrow, the follow-up to Superman, remains an important part of his filmmaking schedule.
In his departure statement, Gunn also revealed that he and Safran had become involved in another DC project that he is writing. He did not provide further details about that project.
This is an important distinction for DC fans: Gunn may no longer oversee the studio’s daily operations, but his creative work could continue to influence its future productions.
The studio’s established characters and stories are also expected to continue beyond the leadership transition.
Who is Jeremy Latcham?
Latcham is an experienced film producer and former Marvel Studios executive who played a role in the development of several major superhero productions.
His credits include Iron Man, The Avengers and Spider-Man: Homecoming. He also served as an executive producer on Guardians of the Galaxy, connecting him professionally with Gunn before their latest industry roles.
He will assume his new position on December 1, overseeing DC Studios’ next phase under Skydance ownership.
His appointment raises an important question about the studio’s future: whether DC will maintain the creative foundation established by Gunn and Safran or pursue a different approach under its new leadership.
For now, the confirmed development is a change in management rather than an announced overhaul of the entire DC Universe.
Gunn’s next chapter as a filmmaker and Latcham’s arrival as studio chief will be closely watched as DC prepares for its next generation of superhero films and television projects.
