James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-CEOs of DC Studios after leading the company for four years. Their departure takes effect on December 1, and they will be succeeded by Jeremy Latcham, a former Marvel executive.
Leadership Transition at DC Studios
Since taking charge of the comic book studio in 2022, Gunn and Safran oversaw the big-screen releases of Superman, Supergirl, and Clayface, alongside live-action television series such as The Penguin, Lanterns, and the second season of Peacemaker. Despite initially mapping out a decade-long plan, the duo will officially step down on December 1.
Latcham, a Marvel Studios veteran who previously served as Kevin Feige's right-hand man, has been appointed president and chief creative officer of DC Studios. He is one of Marvel Studios' earliest employees, having joined in 2004 and rising through the ranks to senior vice president of production and development.
Skydance Leadership Comments
In a joint statement, Skydance Chairman and CEO David Ellison alongside co-CEO Ynon Kreiz stated: "James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation, resetting the foundation and building a slate we’re incredibly proud of."
They added: "We’re grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand." The Skydance chiefs pointed to Latcham as a "longtime creative partner" to both of his predecessors.
They continued: "We have complete confidence that James and Peter will ensure a smooth, collaborative transition and continue this work with care. We look forward to working with Jeremy to build the next generation of DC storytelling and to doubling down on our commitment to fans."
Latcham's Marvel Background
Alongside Feige, Latcham worked on major blockbusters including Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. In his new role, he will be in charge of DC's film, TV and animation output, overseeing the studio's creative pipeline, as well as production, talent and strategy.
He said: "DC’s pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture. 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."
He added: "The chance to steward the incredible cast of DC characters to the screen in a way that excites lifelong fans while introducing their timeless stories to the next generation is a massive responsibility that I do not take lightly."
Ongoing Projects
Gunn and Safran will remain connected to DC through several creative projects, including Gunn's Man of Tomorrow and the TV spin-off The People v. Gorilla Grodd. Additionally, the duo are serving as producers on The Batman: Part II.
They said in a joint statement: "Four years ago, we set out to unite DC under one creative vision. In that time, we helped restore Superman to the heart of DC, while opening new doors and telling new stories in film and television with Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface."
They added: "We’re immensely proud of the team that turned that ambition into something real, including the actors, crews and executives we had the opportunity to collaborate with."
They also expressed optimism about the future of DC Studios under Latcham's leadership, as well as their own ongoing creative work. They said: "We’ve shared a creative history with Jeremy going back to Marvel, and we’re eager to see the perspective he brings to DC’s next chapter. We’re excited to return to what drew us to this job in the first place, which is telling the stories we love, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s journey in Man of Tomorrow."
