DC Studios is preparing for another major change behind the scenes, with James Gunn and Peter Safran stepping away from their leadership positions after four years overseeing the company’s creative direction. Their successor will be Jeremy Latcham, a longtime Marvel Studios executive and producer whose involvement in some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest productions makes him a particularly interesting choice to lead DC’s next chapter.
Announced by Skydance Motion Picture Group on November 9, Latcham will assume the position of President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Studios on December 1, 2026. He will oversee the company’s film, television and animation projects, including their creative development, production, talent and broader strategy.
Gunn and Safran will return to working full time on their creative projects, although their departure from DC Studios’ leadership does not mean they are immediately leaving the franchise behind. Both will remain involved in upcoming productions, including Man of Tomorrow, which Gunn is writing and directing. The filmmakers also expressed enthusiasm about Latcham taking over, describing him as a longtime creative partner dating back to their respective Marvel careers.
Their statement also reflected on the work accomplished during their four years overseeing DC Studios, pointing to the return of Superman to the centre of the franchise and the expansion of its storytelling across film and television. Projects including Superman, Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface were highlighted as examples of the creative direction they helped establish.
For Latcham, the appointment represents a significant change of scenery, but hardly an unfamiliar industry. He joined Marvel Studios in 2004 and became part of the team responsible for establishing what would eventually become the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Working alongside Kevin Feige, Latcham contributed to several major productions, including Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
His experience extends beyond Marvel, having founded Latcham Pictures after leaving the company in 2017. Among his subsequent projects was Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, alongside Bad Times at the El Royale. He has also been involved in developing several other adaptations, including a planned Dungeons & Dragons sequel and a live-action Naruto film.
Skydance executives David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz praised Gunn and Safran for establishing a new foundation for DC Studios, while expressing confidence in Latcham’s ability to guide its future. Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, Co-Chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group, similarly emphasized his familiarity with the comic book industry and the importance of DC’s characters and fanbase.
The transition comes as DC Studios continues to develop an increasingly ambitious slate of projects. Man of Tomorrow, which will reunite Superman and Lex Luthor in another chapter of their ongoing rivalry, is scheduled to arrive in theatres on July 9, 2027. Meanwhile, The Batman Part II, starring Robert Pattinson, is currently in production, with Gunn and Safran serving as producers.
Television will also remain an important part of the franchise’s future. Gunn and Safran have overseen the development of Peacemaker and Creature Commandos, while also executive producing the upcoming Lanterns. Another project mentioned in the announcement is The People v. Gorilla Grodd, an eight-episode HBO Max series starring Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, which has completed filming and is expected to arrive in 2027.
Although Gunn and Safran stepping away from executive leadership represents a considerable change for DC Studios, their continued involvement in upcoming productions should provide some continuity during the transition. Latcham, meanwhile, inherits a franchise with an established creative foundation and plenty of opportunities to expand its roster of characters across different mediums.
His Marvel background makes him an intriguing appointment, particularly given the role he played in bringing several of the MCU’s most recognizable properties to the screen. Whether that experience translates into a similarly successful era for DC remains to be seen, but the studio is clearly placing considerable confidence in someone who understands the challenges of adapting an extensive comic book universe for a mainstream audience.