Skydance Motion Picture Group announced Monday, November 9, that James Gunn and Peter Safran will step down as co-chief executives of DC Studios after four years in leadership. Jeremy Latcham, a veteran producer from Marvel Studios, will assume the roles of president and chief creative officer effective December 1, according to a company press release.
In a joint statement, Skydance CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz praised Gunn and Safran’s tenure, stating they had "launched a new era for DC Studios" and "led it through a period of real transformation." The outgoing executives will continue contributing creatively to ongoing DC projects, including Gunn’s upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, scheduled for release in July 2027.
Latcham, who previously served as senior vice president of production and development at Marvel Studios, played a key role in developing films such as Iron Man (2008), The Avengers (2012), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). His hiring marks a notable shift in DC Studios’ leadership, bringing extensive experience from Marvel’s early cinematic universe expansion.
Gunn and Safran’s departure follows the merger of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance, finalized in late October. The duo had been retained after Skydance’s acquisition, despite earlier leadership changes at Warner Bros. that saw the departures of executives Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy. Their exit comes amid mixed box office performance, including the horror-superhero hybrid Clayface (released October 21, 2025), which grossed $109 million globally on a $44 million budget, and the underperformance of Supergirl (2026).
Latcham’s appointment introduces a new creative direction for DC Studios, though Skydance has not specified changes to its existing project slate. His prior work includes faith-focused and inspirational films, such as Flyer (about the Wright Brothers) and House of David (a TV series about the biblical figure), produced under the Wonder Project banner. Latcham has publicly emphasized themes of redemption, heroism, and family-oriented storytelling, though Skydance has not indicated a formal shift toward explicitly Christian or faith-based content.
Existing DC projects remain on track, including Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow, the animated series The People v. Gorilla Grodd, and The Batman Part II. Gunn had previously outlined plans for a Superman trilogy, with potential crossover into a Justice League film. His creative involvement is expected to continue beyond his executive departure.
Skydance’s decision to replace Gunn and Safran with Latcham reflects a strategic choice to leverage his Marvel pedigree while navigating DC’s ongoing franchise challenges. The leadership transition underscores the broader shifts in Hollywood’s superhero film landscape, where Disney’s Marvel continues to dominate, and DC seeks to redefine its competitive positioning.