Remarkably, the DC Universe is headed for another major upheaval following the surprise ousting of James Gunn and Peter Safran from their roles as the heads of DC Studios. Just as the largely rebooted cinematic universe was finding its footing, the decision was made by Skydance to find new leadership, despite Gunn and Safran believing their roles were safe following the recent Warner Bros. acquisition.
Despite having just begun, the DCU under Gunn and Safran had been growing quickly. While 2025’s Superman established a new foundation for the DCU, shows like Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, and Lanterns expanded the universe alongside the Supergirl and Clayface films, which both hit theaters this year. Looking ahead, James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow is set to release next year, and the same goes for The Batman – Part II (along with many other shows and movies in development). However, this new change in leadership throws much of this into question, with what will no doubt be a pretty big shift in priorities.
Of course, fans naturally have more than a few questions about what led to Gunn and Safran’s firing, and what’s next for the DC Universe. Keeping that in mind, here are 10 of the biggest questions we have about the DCU right now in light of what’s been revealed, what’s rumored, and what we still don’t know following Gunn and Safran’s exit.
Was The James Gunn Exit A Mutual Decision?
When the news was first announced on November 11th, official statements from Skydance and Gunn were fairly professional and complimentary, seeming to indicate a mutual transition with Gunn and Safran returning to full creative work. Gunn himself expressed some relief at having more personal time, and an eagerness to focus on projects he’s most passionate about, admitting that the corporate responsibilities were taxing (aligning with past comments from Gunn).
That said, reports (substantiated and otherwise) have suggested a far more complicated scenario. According to news outlets like TheWrap, Skydance CEO David Ellison had been quietly discussing a transition with Gunn and Safran’s replacement over a month before the announcement, and that Gunn and Safran were only informed as recently as November 6th, just five days before the news went public.
There have also been reports about corporate tensions with other executives, seeing as how James and Safran were set to report directly to Ellison under their existing contracts, just as they had been with Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav. This was instead of operating under the Skydance co-chairs in charge of everything else under Paramount/WB’s theatrical and television output, resulting in “several points of tension between DC’s Gunn and Safran and Skydance’s Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg.”
Whatever the full story is, it seems quite likely that Gunn and Safran leaving wasn’t their choice, and that this was apparently a long time coming. After all, James Gunn and Peter Safran themselves had indicated that their roles were safe following the merger (clearly…they weren’t).
Why Did Skydance Choose To Oust James Gunn and Peter Safran Now?
The timing of it all is arguably the biggest surprise. While Supergirl did struggle at the box office both critically and commercially, Superman was a large success, and the DCU has delivered several well-received television projects, particularly Lanterns with record viewership numbers for HBO. Even Clayface broke $100 million, a remarkable feat for an R-rated horror movie. So…why make such a significant leadership change? Additionally, why not wait until after Man of Tomorrow releases next year to gauge its performance and make a decision about Gunn then?
Ultimately, the decision indicates a significant lack of patience on Skydance’s part for the way Gunn was building the DCU, and more than likely a level of greed that the returns weren’t as high as expected right off the bat from their newly acquired superhero cinematic universe. It’s been heavily suggested that Skydance wants more high-profile heroes and major films like a Justice League movie. However, it took 4–5 years for the MCU to build toward 2012’s Avengers, and they did it with, at the time, lower-tier Marvel heroes (AND not every MCU movie before then was a winner).
The DCU is really only in its second year, making the entire decision feel incredibly premature. It’s not like it’s in a worse-off position than the MCU was at the same point in its evolution.
Who’s Taking Over DC Studios?
Skydance has selected Jeremy Latcham to serve as DC Studios new, singular head, who will notably be reporting to Goldberg and Greenstein.
Jeremy Latcham was a senior executive at Marvel Studios who helped develop key early MCU projects including Iron Man, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy (working with James Gunn), Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. He then left Marvel in 2017, and has since produced more independent projects, as well as Bad Times at the El Royale and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The most recent film Latcham produced was Nate Bargatze’s The Breadwinner.
While his resume does communicate experience with superhero franchises and blockbusters, there are concerns about his creative philosophy and desire to make four-quadrant films with mass appeal and accessibility. Combined with his more conservative values and Christian faith, there are concerns that the DCU might become more sanitized (though that remains to be fully seen).
What Does The Future Hold For In-Development Projects?
The immediate slate of projects already in production appears relatively secure (within reason). Man of Tomorrow is in post-production, though there are reports about Skydance seeking potential reshoots and wanting to remove certain characters. Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II is already filming, and HBO Max’s The People v. Gorilla Grodd has completed production as well. Likewise, Gunn and Safran are expected to be involved in projects they’ve already helped develop.
However, it remains to be seen if any projects in earlier stages of development or still waiting on scripts (like Swamp Thing or Teen Titans) will still happen at this point. For now, it feels safe to assume that anything already filming and in production will continue (though perhaps with some tweaks), while the longer-term slate will likely face much bigger shifts/changes.
Will The DCU Get Rebooted (Again)?
Another major full reboot of the DCU seems very unlikely. General audiences have already been confused enough as it is with projects like Matt Reeves’ The Batman saga existing outside the main DCU timeline, as well as certain projects from the previous DCEU like Peacemaker season 1 and The Suicide Squad remaining canon in the new DCU. On the whole, Gunn and Safran have already established characters, relationships, and storylines that would be difficult to discard without confusing audiences, particularly when it comes to Superman, which is very much the DCU’s current cornerstone.
That said, creative pivots going forward feel more plausible, with Gunn’s vision more than likely receiving major changes (if not being done away with altogether). Even so, it’s been reported that Gunn was already planning on introducing heavy hitters like Batman and Wonder Woman in the next few years anyway, though the execution may look pretty different than originally envisioned.
What Secret DCU Project Is James Gunn Still Working On?
Lucy North/PA Images/INSTARimages
Gunn has confirmed that he’s writing another DC project beyond Man of Tomorrow, though he hasn’t revealed what it is. One possibility is a third Superman movie. It would make sense given his ongoing interest in Clark Kent and the larger Superman mythology, especially when combined with reports that Gunn was planning to gradually shift his Superman movies into full-on Justice League events.
It’s not confirmed at this point, but Gunn keeping his focus on Superman post-Man of Tomorrow feels like a natural next step for the director. That said, he could also be developing something entirely different that excites him just as much (which may be where those comments about keeping his focus on things he’s more passionate about may come into play).
Will James Gunn Continue Aiding In The DCU’s Creative Development?
Again, the official statements suggest Gunn and Safran will continue helping with a smooth transition, and the implication is that Gunn isn’t immediately abandoning DC altogether. However, it’s unclear how much creative influence he’ll retain once Latcham officially takes over and the current projects in production are released.
Given Gunn and Latcham’s previous history at Marvel, it’s possible they could continue a working relationship with Gunn still playing a key role in guiding the DCU’s future, just no longer having the full authority he once did. That said, that’s still under the assumption that things are still fairly amicable between Gunn and Skydance leadership (a notion that seems less certain with every new report).
Will DC Studios Fast-Track Batman & Wonder Woman?
A key priority for Skydance is more than likely Batman and Wonder Woman. After all, they’re two of DC’s most recognizable heroes, and it’s difficult to imagine a new cinematic Justice League strategy without DC’s full Trinity. While Gunn was reportedly already planning to debut them both over the next few years, it’s easy to see Skydance wanting their debuts fast-tracked as soon as possible. While that doesn’t mean a full-on Justice League film will happen in the next two years, we should absolutely expect some very quick movement on new Batman and Wonder Woman projects.
What Does The Future Hold For Elseworlds Projects Like The Batman? Dynamic Duo?
Gunn’s DC Studios made room for stories outside the shared universe known as “Elseworlds”, allowing Matt Reeves’ The Batman franchise to continue independently. Likewise, Dynamic Duo is another project in development set to tell a non-canon DCU story about Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, and there were recent reports about an Elseworlds Poison Ivy series as well.
Whether Latcham maintains the flexibility of projects existing outside the main DCU after The Batman – Part II remains to be seen. It’s not hard to see Skydance rejecting anything that doesn’t progress the main cinematic franchise in the future, so much so that they may be a bigger push to integrate and make Robert Pattinson the Batman of the DCU. Additionally, Pattinson potentially becoming the next James Bond will likely affect future decisions as well.
Will Clayface Be The Last R-Rated DC Movie?
One of the biggest concerns surrounding this new DCU leadership transition is movies like Clayface. Despite its success as an R-rated body horror film showcasing the versatility and potential of the DC Universe, Latcham’s aforementioned emphasis on accessibility and greater four-quadrant appeal could make that approach less common going forward. The same goes for television projects with more mature content like Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, and Lanterns.
Latcham’s now-infamous “grandmother test” doesn’t automatically mean R-rated projects are finished at DC Studios. After all, he’s worked on projects with mature ratings before, and accessible doesn’t necessarily mean always avoiding darker material. Still, it’s not hard to imagine Clayface and future projects like it becoming rare exceptions that are much harder to greenlight than they perhaps would have under Gunn and Safran’s leadership.
- Cast
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Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena
- Created by
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Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
- Character(s)
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Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam
- Movie(s)
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Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold
The DC Universe is a multimedia franchise based on DC Comics and its roster of iconic heroes and villains. The DCU has inspired an ongoing cinematic universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, a previous cinematic universe helmed by Zack Snyder, and several independent movies and TV shows.
