James Gunn and Peter Safran Exit DC Studios Leadership

DC Studios is preparing for a major leadership transition under Skydance ownership, with Jeremy Latcham set to become the studio's new president and chief creative officer.

According to reports, DC Studios is facing another major shakeup at the top, with James Gunn and Peter Safran stepping down as co-heads. After four years of guiding DC’s creative direction, the duo will give the reins to a new leadership team under Skydance ownership. DC has been trying to build a coherent cinematic universe for nearly two decades.

The company has had mixed success competing with Marvel Studios, with projects like Green Lantern and Man of Steel marking different phases of the company's evolving approach.

The last major shift occurred around the release of Black Adam.

The film was supposed to be a new beginning for the franchise, especially with Henry Cavill returning as Superman. But the picture fell short of expectations, and Warner Bros. soon announced that Gunn and Safran would take the reins of DC Studios and begin building a new cinematic world. A report said that Gunn and Safran won’t lead DC Studios into its new chapter under Skydance.

Instead, Jeremy Latcham will become the company's new President and Chief Creative Officer. Latcham is a familiar face in superhero movies, having previously worked with Gunn on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Gunn and Safran reflected on their time at the helm of DC Studios in a statement, saying they were proud of the work done during their tenure.

They pointed to their attempts to push Superman to the front of the franchise, while broadening its storytelling through movies and TV projects, including Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface. The execs also showed their support behind Latcham as he prepares to take over the studio. But stepping away from leadership doesn't necessarily mean stepping away from DC altogether.

According to the source, both will return to their creative work, including post-production on Superman's next outing, Man of Tomorrow, and other DC projects. The shakeup raises doubts about how much creative sway Gunn and Safran will have over upcoming DC productions. They’ll still work on projects, but the new leadership structure means they won’t make the studio's big executive decisions, like which projects get approved.

It may also be because of Skydance’s involvement.

When a company is acquired, the new owners will often bring in executives they trust to set the course they want. Gunn’s prior professional relationship with Latcham could provide some continuity, but his hiring still signifies a major change in DC’s management.

As a result, several projects under development could face increased scrutiny. Productions already in the works will continue as planned, while others might be reassessed based on the new administration's priorities. Rumors have already circulated about things like the above-mentioned Amanda Waller series, although no official cancellation has been made.

What Skydance plans to do with DC Studios is the big question now. The corporation might keep some of Gunn’s current plans and some of Safran’s ambitions, but take a different approach to the property's future. With multiple shows already in the works, major creative adjustments aren’t expected immediately.

But the changeover could become more apparent during the next six months, and further major changes could appear in the next year. As for what the future will hold for DC Studios, that remains to be seen until Skydance and Latcham formally lay out their plans.