Gunn and Safran to leave DC Studios leadership roles
The co-CEOs announced their departure on Monday, with Jeremy Latcham named to take over as president and chief creative officer.
By Aiko Soto ·
James Gunn and Peter Safran have stepped down as co-CEOs and chairmen of DC Studios. Gunn confirmed the news in a statement posted to his Instagram account on Monday, describing the move as an unexpected exit after four years in the roles.
The directors were appointed to lead the studio in 2022 by David Zaslav, who was then the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. During their tenure, the pair oversaw the release of the films Superman and Clayface. They are currently completing work on the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, which Gunn described as the best filmmaking experience of his life.
In his statement, Gunn reflected on his childhood in Manchester, Missouri, where he created comics featuring DC characters. He stated that having full access to those characters felt like a dream come true. Gunn acknowledged that he was initially unsure about accepting the job but could not pass up the opportunity.
Gunn credited Safran with being his best partner and a good friend. He noted that Safran absorbed much of the corporate nature of the position, which Gunn found challenging. Gunn also cited his ADHD hyperfocus as a factor in his decision, explaining that he struggled to divide his time between projects he loved and other studio responsibilities.
Despite the difficulties, Gunn thanked the studio staff, collaborators, and fans for their support. He expressed relief at returning to pure filmmaking but said he would miss being the co-caretaker of the characters. He emphasized that the work is not entirely finished, as Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for release this summer. Gunn also mentioned that he has been engaged on another DC project, which he is currently writing.
Variety reported that Jeremy Latcham, a veteran of Marvel, will serve as the new president and chief creative officer. DC Studios has been contacted for confirmation of the new leadership arrangement. The studio has not yet announced a timeline for Gunn and Safran’s final transitions out of their current roles.
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