James Gunn Exits DC Studios as Skydance Era Begins
The director said the role was challenging, while new head Jeremy Latcham steps in after recent ownership changes.
By Noor Phillips ·
James Gunn has officially stepped down as co-head of DC Studios, a move that follows the completion of Skydance Media's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Jeremy Latcham, a veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe who previously worked closely with Kevin Feige, has been named to replace Gunn in the top executive role.
In a public message posted to Instagram on Monday, Gunn described his four-year tenure as "trying, to say the least." He stated that he is "incredibly relieved" to return to full-time creative work rather than splitting his focus between managing a studio and directing films. Gunn noted that he dislikes the corporate aspects of the job, a burden he said his former partner Peter Safran often handled.
The director cited his ADHD hyperfocus as a primary challenge, explaining that dividing his time between high-passion projects and administrative duties proved difficult. Despite the difficulties, Gunn highlighted several professional successes during his time at the studio, including the release of Superman and Clayface, as well as the HBO series Peacemaker. He did not mention the box office performance of Supergirl in his assessment.
Gunn confirmed that he and Safran are not entirely finished with the franchise. The film Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for release this summer, and Gunn stated that he has been engaged to write another DC project, though he has not yet committed to a long-term plan beyond that.
The leadership change comes shortly after Skydance finalized its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery last month. At the time of the deal, Gunn had reportedly been reassured that he would continue in his position. Latcham, who served as a key creative figure on many MCU titles, including Gunn's early Guardians of the Galaxy films, now takes the helm of the studio's future slate.
Gunn expressed gratitude for the people he worked with, calling Safran the "smartest and most competent person" he knows. He described the experience of having full access to DC characters as a dream come true, recalling how he used to draw comics featuring those heroes while growing up in Manchester, Missouri. He ended his message by thanking fans for embracing the stories the team put on screen.
The next major milestone for the studio will be the summer release of Man of Tomorrow, which Gunn described as the best filmmaking experience of his life during its production process.
