James Gunn & Peter Safran Hand DC Studios Reins to Marvel Veteran Jeremy Latcham
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Phil Roberts 
In a shocking development, Jeremy Latcham takes charge as James Gunn & Peter Safran step down from their roles at DC Studios in a major shakeup.
Well, that didn’t take long! After just four years, James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as the heads of DC Studios. After Skydance assumed control of Warner Bros., a major shakeup at DC was always on the cards, but with the dust now settling on DC’s Clayface, Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison has moved quickly to change the guard. Thankfully, the duo will continue to produce on various DC projects while returning to their creative work full-time, but they will no longer head the studio after December 1.
Taking the reins from December will be Jeremy Latcham, who joins the studio as its new president and chief creative officer. He’ll report directly to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein as DC Studios prepares to embark on its next chapter.
Latcham is no stranger to the superhero business, having previously served as Marvel Studios’ SVP of Production and Development. During his time there, he helped shape the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, working on blockbuster hits including Iron Man, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Avengers. Now, he’ll be turning his attention to DC’s legendary roster, helping oversee the next generation of heroes and villains, including a new Batman, Wonder Woman, and many more iconic characters from across the DC Universe. That’s quite a collection of capes and cowls to look after!
WHAT’S NEXT FOR JAMES GUNN?
As mentioned earlier, this doesn’t mean Gunn is walking away from DC altogether. The filmmaker will remain firmly in the mix as he prepares for next year’s Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow. And that’s not all! Alongside Safran, he’ll also remain attached as a producer on The Batman Part II and The People vs. Gorilla Grodd.
Gunn has also revealed that the pair have recently started work on another DC project, which he is currently writing. So, while their days at the top of the DC Studios management team may be coming to an end, their creative influence isn’t going anywhere just yet. The future of the DC Universe is still very much being shaped by Gunn and Safran, even if they’ll be doing so from a different position.
REACTIONS
James Gunn opened up about the leadership change. In a statement, he said: “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. 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. 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.”
After his appointment, an excited Latcham added: “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. 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,” said Latcham. “I am grateful to Dana and Josh for putting their trust in me. I can’t wait to work night and day alongside filmmakers, comic book creators, artists and storytellers of every kind, across film, television and animation, to build something ambitious for longtime DC fans and newcomers alike.”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR DC?
Although this news comes as something of a shock, a leadership change was perhaps always on the cards. Following Skydance’s takeover of Warner Bros., DC’s release slate was inevitably going to come under closer scrutiny. With Supergirl struggling at the box office and Clayface delivering a respectable but underwhelming theatrical performance, the door was open for a change of direction. And Skydance doesn’t seem to be wasting any time making its mark.
However, fans of the current DCU needn’t panic just yet. David Corenswet and his fellow superheroes aren’t going anywhere, and the foundations James Gunn and Peter Safran laid will continue to shape the franchise’s future. That said, once Man of Tomorrow arrives, we could be looking at a very different DC landscape, with the future of several projects potentially hanging in the balance.
Could that mean The Brave and the Bold is shelved in favor of an entirely different Batman project? Might Wonder Woman finally be fast-tracked back onto the big screen? And what other surprises could Jeremy Latcham have up his sleeve? For now, it’s anyone’s guess. But with his impressive Marvel Studios experience behind him, there’s plenty of reason to be intrigued by what comes next. Here’s hoping the Dark Knight is swinging back into action in Gotham sooner rather than later!
Whatever happens, one thing is certain: you can count on Future of the Force to keep you up to speed with all the latest DC developments as they unfold. Stay tuned, DC fans!
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
