James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down from the DC Universe four years after taking charge of the superhero film franchise.
The departures, which emerged on November 9, follow leadership reshuffles at merged studio Skydance alongside executive dissatisfaction over escalating production budgets and lackluster box office returns.
According to a report from industry trade publication Variety, which spoke with several entertainment industry insiders, the decision to part ways was primarily driven by financial concerns. Gunn and Safran repeatedly requested substantial production budgets for major releases, but the box office results failed to meet studio expectations.
The new Superman film barely broke even during its theatrical run, while Supergirl proved a costly disappointment for the studio. Supergirl grossed just $126 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $170 million.
Franchise Strategy And Obscure Characters
Executives at Warner Bros. were also dissatisfied with the creative direction chosen by the producers. Over the four years following their appointment, Gunn and Safran did not introduce their own version of Batman, instead directing resources toward lesser-known comic book properties.
Recent projects centered on minor characters such as Clayface, while the television series Lanterns was regarded as the franchise's only clear and unqualified success. The underwhelming box office performances came as rival Marvel Studios achieved massive commercial success with Spider-Man: A New Day, which collected $2.5 billion globally, while also developing its upcoming blockbuster Avengers: Doomsday.
Gunn had previously established his reputation as a leading filmmaker in the superhero genre by directing the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy for Marvel, while Safran built an extensive producing resume that included major DC releases such as Aquaman. Their hiring four years ago had been intended to unify Warner Bros. adaptations of DC Comics into a cohesive cinematic universe capable of rivaling Marvel.
Jeremy Latcham Takes Over DC Universe
Following the departures, Skydance expects incoming DC head Jeremy Latcham to refocus the franchise on its core strengths by prioritizing recognizable superheroes, large-scale blockbusters, and engaging storylines. Latcham brings extensive blockbuster experience to the role, having previously worked as an executive and producer on early Marvel Studios hits including Iron Man and The Avengers.
Studio executives have not yet revealed whether the DC Universe will undergo another complete creative reboot under Latcham, or if the incoming leadership will continue developing projects with the existing cast of actors.
