James Gunn Out at DC Studios: Jeremy Latcham Takes Over the DCU

James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as the heads of DC Studios, and former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham will take over as president and chief creative officer on December 1, TheWrap reported Monday, November 9. The move comes about a month after Skydance closed its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns DC.

That's why "james gunn fired," "is James Gunn leaving DC" and "jeremy latcham" are all trending at once. Fans want to know whether Gunn was pushed out, what happens to his Superman sequel, and who the new boss actually is. Here's what has been confirmed so far, and what hasn't.

Key Takeaways

• Gunn and Safran are out as co-heads of DC Studios after four years in the job.
• Jeremy Latcham starts December 1 as president and chief creative officer, reporting to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein.
• Gunn is not leaving DC entirely: he is finishing Man of Tomorrow (due July 9, 2027) and says he is writing another DC project.
• Gunn said on Instagram he is "incredibly relieved" to return to filmmaking, calling the executive job "trying, to say the least."
• No reason for the change was given, and outlets differ on whether it was a firing or a mutual exit.

James Gunn News: What Happened at DC Studios

The James Gunn DC Studios era lasted four years, from the studio's creation in 2022 to this week's announcement.

Skydance, the company formed when Paramount Skydance absorbed Warner Bros. Discovery, announced that Gunn and Safran will not lead DC into its next chapter. According to TheWrap, Latcham will run DC's film, television and animation slate, overseeing the creative pipeline along with production, talent and strategy.

Skydance leaders David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz thanked the departing pair in a statement quoted by Gizmodo: "We're grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand."

The company said Gunn and Safran will "return full time to their creative work," including post-production on Man of Tomorrow and other DC projects, per TheWrap.

Was James Gunn Fired? Stepping Down vs. Ousted

This is the part people are arguing about. Skydance's announcement frames it as James Gunn stepping down alongside Safran to return to creative work. Some headlines go further and describe the pair as "out" or ousted, which is where the "james gunn fired" searches come from.

Gizmodo notes that it is unclear whether they were forced out or chose to leave, and that only weeks earlier they were reportedly seen as safe after the acquisition. No outlet we read reported an official reason for the change. Until Skydance or the executives say more, "stepping down" is the official wording, and anything about motives is guesswork.

Is James Gunn Leaving DC? Not Completely

The short answer to "did James Gunn leave DC" is: he is leaving the executive job, not the characters. In a long Instagram post, quoted by TheWrap, Gunn said he and Safran have "just been engaged on another DC project which I'm writing." He also wrote: "And, of course, the characters we set up will live on."

He was candid about the job itself. Gunn called his time running the studio "trying, to say the least," said he disliked "the at-times corporate nature of the job," and thanked Safran for "taking the brunt of that." He described himself as "incredibly relieved and excited to get back to pure filmmaking" and called Safran "the smartest and most competent person I know."

He saved his warmest words for his Superman sequel, calling Man of Tomorrow "the best filmmaking experience of my life."

Who Is Jeremy Latcham?

Latcham is a familiar name to anyone who has read the fine print on Marvel credits. According to ScreenCrush, he joined Marvel in 2004 and rose to vice president of production and development. He was part of the core team that helped Kevin Feige build the Marvel Cinematic Universe in its early years.

He also has history with Gunn: Latcham was an executive producer on Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), and TheWrap says he worked with Gunn across the Guardians trilogy. The Oklahoman reports he is a Tulsa native and a graduate of Tulsa Union High School.

In his own statement, quoted by Gizmodo, Latcham said: "DC's pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture."

Jeremy Latcham Movies

Here are the credits most reported across ScreenCrush and The Oklahoman:

Film	Latcham's role
Iron Man (2008)	Associate producer
Iron Man 2 (2010)	Co-producer
The Avengers (2012)	Executive producer
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)	Executive producer
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)	Executive producer
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)	Executive producer
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)	Producer
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)	Producer

The Oklahoman also lists The Breadwinner among his later credits and says he is producing an upcoming live-action Naruto film.

Peter Safran's Exit

Peter Safran, the producer and executive who co-ran DC Studios alongside Gunn, leaves at the same time. The two were named co-chairs and co-CEOs of the newly formed DC Studios in October 2022, replacing the old DC Films setup. Skydance said both will go back to full-time creative work, per TheWrap. Safran is a producer on Man of Tomorrow. Gunn's post made clear the two remain partners on the DC project he is writing.

James Gunn DC Movies and the DCU So Far

The James Gunn DCU, the shared DC Universe he and Safran launched, officially began on the big screen in 2025. Kotaku counts three DCU films and three DCU TV series released so far:

Title	Type	Reported result
Superman (2025)	Film	$618 million worldwide (TheWrap)
Supergirl (2026)	Film	$126.4 million worldwide (TheWrap)
Clayface (October 2026)	Film	$109 million through three weekends (TheWrap)
Creature Commandos	Animated series	HBO Max
Peacemaker	Series	Well received on HBO Max (Kotaku)
Lanterns	Series	Well received on HBO Max (Kotaku)

Kotaku describes Superman as a critical hit and Supergirl as less well received and soft at the box office. Box office figures above are as reported by TheWrap on November 9.

What Happens to the DCU Now?

This is where most of the open questions sit. Here is what is known and what isn't:

• Man of Tomorrow is still coming. Gunn wrote and directed the Superman sequel, which wrapped filming in August 2026 and is dated for July 9, 2027. Skydance says Gunn will continue post-production.
• Gunn's next DC script is in the works, but Gizmodo says its future under the new leadership is undecided.
• The Batman Part II is in production. Gunn and Safran had kept it outside their DCU; Gizmodo raises the possibility that could change.
• Swamp Thing is in development, with its status also among the open questions.
• The People v. Gorilla Grodd, a mockumentary series starring Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, is on the slate with no date, per Kotaku.

Gizmodo also expects the next era of DC Studios to be less transparent than it was under Gunn and Safran. Nothing has been announced about cancellations, and Latcham has not yet laid out plans.

The Skydance Deal Behind the DC Shake-Up

The leadership change follows Skydance's takeover of Warner Bros. According to a Skydance filing with the SEC, Paramount completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery after receiving all required regulatory approvals, and the combined company now operates as Skydance. Multiple reports date the closing to early October 2026.

New owners often bring in their own executives, and DC is one of the most valuable brands in the combined company. Under the new structure, Latcham reports to Goldberg and Greenstein, Skydance's film chiefs.

What to Watch for Next

• December 1: Latcham officially takes over.
• Slate announcements: any word on which in-development DC films and shows keep moving under the new chief.
• Man of Tomorrow marketing: the first trailer will show how Skydance is positioning Gunn's film after his exit.
• Gunn's next project: whether the DC film he is writing gets a green light from the new regime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was James Gunn fired from DC Studios?

Skydance described the change as Gunn and Peter Safran stepping down to return full time to creative work. No official reason was given, and Gizmodo reports it is unclear whether they were forced out or chose to leave.

Is James Gunn leaving DC completely?

No. He is leaving the co-head job but is finishing Man of Tomorrow and says he is writing another DC project. He wrote that "the characters we set up will live on."

Who is replacing James Gunn at DC Studios?

Jeremy Latcham, a former Marvel Studios executive who worked on Iron Man, The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, becomes DC Studios president and chief creative officer on December 1.

When does James Gunn step down?

Latcham takes over on December 1, 2026, according to TheWrap and Gizmodo.

Is Man of Tomorrow still coming out?

Yes. The Superman sequel, written and directed by Gunn, is dated for July 9, 2027, and Skydance says Gunn will continue post-production.

Why did James Gunn leave DC Studios?

Skydance did not give a reason. Gunn said the job was "trying, to say the least" and that he disliked its corporate side, and he is "incredibly relieved" to get back to filmmaking.

Sources

• James Gunn and Peter Safran Out at DC Studios, Jeremy Latcham Named New President and Chief Creative Officer (TheWrap)
• James Gunn Says He’s ‘Incredibly Relieved’ After Exiting as Co-Head of DC Studios (TheWrap)
• James Gunn and Peter Safran Are Exiting DC Studios (Gizmodo)
• James Gunn And Peter Safran Step Down As DC Studios Co-Presidents (Kotaku)
• Who Is Jeremy Latcham, The New Head of DC Studios? (ScreenCrush)
• Oklahoman named new head of DC Studios, replacing James Gunn, Peter Safran (The Oklahoman (via Yahoo))
• Paramount Skydance Corp Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1 (U.S. SEC)