NEW YORK – Fans of Superman, Batman, and the DC heroes have some big news: there’s a new boss in town yet again.
On Monday, the Skydance Motion Picture Group announced that James Gunn and Peter Safran will be stepping down as co-chief executives of DC Studios after a four-year term. Their journey at the helm included the release of their first film, “Superman,” just last year, but it seems their time leading the superhero franchise has come to an unexpected end.
Initially, Gunn and Safran weathered the storm of Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. This acquisition coincided with the release of DC’s “Clayface.” However, as the dust settles, it appears they won’t survive the transition. Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison has decided to bring in Jeremy Latcham, a seasoned veteran from Marvel Studios, to lead DC going forward.
In a statement, Ellison praised Gunn and Safran’s contributions, stating, “James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation.” He expressed gratitude for their passion and commitment to the legendary DC brand.
Jeremy Latcham is well-known for his work on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially with hits like “Iron Man” and “The Avengers.” He has also collaborated with Gunn and Safran on “Guardians of the Galaxy,” making him an experienced choice for this new role.
The transition will officially take place on December 1. However, fans can expect to see Gunn and Safran’s influence in upcoming projects, as many are already in production. Gunn is currently finalizing the post-production of the “Superman” sequel, “Man of Tomorrow,” along with the series “The People v. Gorilla Grodd” and “The Batman Part II.”
Despite their efforts, Gunn and Safran faced challenges, including the recent flop of “Supergirl,” which was a significant setback early in their tenure. Their strategy involved taking risks with unique comic book adaptations, such as the horror-infused “Clayface,” which has grossed $109 million so far.
As Latcham steps into the role of president and chief creative officer of DC Studios, he will report to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group. They expressed confidence in Latcham, emphasizing his respect for DC and its dedicated fanbase.
Gunn’s standout success during his DC leadership was “Superman,” which offered a more comedic take on the classic hero compared to past portrayals like Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel.” However, it fell short of the massive box-office success of other superhero films, grossing $618.7 million worldwide.
James Gunn has always been an unconventional choice for such a high-profile role, and as he prepares to leave DC, he appears eager to return to his roots in writing and directing. In a statement, he and Safran expressed their excitement about getting back to storytelling, including the next chapter of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor’s journey in “Man of Tomorrow.”
Before joining DC, Latcham took a break from superhero films, founding Latcham Pictures in 2017, where he produced films like “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” and “Bad Times at the El Royale.”
In his own words, Latcham stated, “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.”
___
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the new head of DC to Jeremy Latcham, not Jeremy Latchman.
