DC Studios CEO James Gunn exits after four-year tenure

James Gunn and Peter Safran have departed as the co-CEOs and chairmen of DC Studios. The leadership pair announced their exit in a statement shared on Instagram on Monday, marking the end of their four-year tenure at the helm of the division.

Gunn attributed his decision to the demanding nature of the executive role, noting that the corporate structure left little room for creative rest. He stated that his ADHD hyperfocus made it difficult to divide time between high-priority projects and administrative duties. The former studio head said he stole time away from himself and his loved ones to manage the workload, describing the past four years as trying despite the professional successes.

During their time in charge, Gunn and Safran oversaw the release of the films Superman and Clayface. They also advanced the production of the sequel Man of Tomorrow, which Gunn described as the best filmmaking experience of his life. The two leaders were appointed to their positions in 2022 by David Zaslav, who was the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery at the time.

Gunn expressed relief at returning to pure filmmaking while acknowledging he still has unfinished business with the studio. He confirmed that Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for release this summer. Additionally, he is currently writing another DC project, though he noted it is unclear how that engagement will proceed after his departure.

Variety reports that Jeremy Latcham, a veteran of Marvel, will assume the role of president and chief creative officer at DC Studios. DC Studios has not yet formally confirmed Latcham's appointment to ABC Audio. The transition leaves the studio with new leadership responsible for guiding the future of the franchise and the characters established under the previous management.

In his statement, Gunn thanked the DC Studios crew, collaborators, and fans for their support. He described Safran as his best partner and a truly good friend, crediting him for handling the corporate aspects of the job. Gunn concluded by saying he would miss being the co-caretaker of the characters but was excited to focus on his craft again.