Maxance Vincent
In surprising Monday-morning news, Skydance announced that James Gunn and Peter Safran will no longer run DC Studios as of December 1, despite bringing them into the fold when the company combined with Warner Bros. Pictures last month. Gunn and Safran were hired by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav in an attempt to reinvigorate interest in the DC brand after almost a decade of critical and commercial duds, and had just begun to execute their plan, with TV series such as Creature Commandos and Lanterns, and movies like Superman, Supergirl, and the recently released Clayface.
As a replacement, Skydance co-CEOs David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz are hiring Jeremy Latcham, who worked closely with Kevin Feige on films such as Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and The Avengers. Latcham was also the producer who hired Gunn to direct one of Marvel’s biggest hits, Guardians of the Galaxy. The two have had a very close working relationship and friendship since then.
In a statement, Ellison and Kreiz said the following:
“James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation, resetting the foundation and building a slate we’re incredibly proud of. We’re grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand. Jeremy has been a longtime creative partner to both, and we have complete confidence that James and Peter will ensure a smooth, collaborative transition and continue this work with care. We look forward to working with Jeremy to build the next generation of DC storytelling and to doubling down on our commitment to fans.”
Meanwhile, Gunn and Safran had this to say:
“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.”
Gunn and Safran are expected to stay on at DC for their creative work, though that statement can mean a thousand different things. However, it looks like Ellison is keen on continuing what the two had built in the DCU, as evidenced by a personal statement that Gunn wrote on Instagram, where he says that he is currently writing another DC movie and that “the characters we set up will live on.” You can read the full statement below:
Unlike the previous regime, which reported directly to the CEO, Latcham will report to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, who had this to say:
“Jeremy brings a deep reverence for DC and its passionate fanbase, recognizing that they are the very foundation of this storied, multigenerational brand. Under his leadership, every film and television show will be ushered from start to finish through the prism of the legions of fans who love and champion it. Jeremy’s track record exemplifies the excellence he will bring to building out DC and the many beloved characters within it.”
For Latcham, “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. 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.”
The DC Universe seemed to be in its infancy but has struggled to gain audience engagement. Both Superman and Clayface were modest box-office hits, but Supergirl bombed spectacularly. Up next is Man of Tomorrow, written and directed by Gunn, which will release in cinemas next year and could shape how Latcham builds the universe.
Source: Skydance (press release)
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