American director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran are stepping down from their roles as co-chairs and chief executives of DC Studios after four years in the role. They will be replaced by former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Letchem, who will oversee the production of films, TV series and animated projects based on DC comics. The personnel changes come following the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount for $111 billion. Gunn and Safran will continue to work on superhero films, but without any managerial responsibilities.
- James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down from their leadership roles at DC Studios after four years.
- The new head will be former Marvel producer Jeremy Letch.
- The personnel changes will come into effect on 1 December 2026.
- Gann and Safran will continue to work on DC films and screenplays.
- The next Superman film is due to be released in July 2027.
Who will replace James Gunn and Peter Safran?
The new president and chief creative officer of DC Studios will be Jeremy Letchem. He will take up his post on 1 December and will be responsible for project development, production, HR policy and the studio’s overall strategy.
Letchem has extensive experience working on superhero franchises. He joined Marvel Studios in 2004 and helped create the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His projects include *Iron Man*, *The Avengers*, *Guardians of the Galaxy* and *Spider-Man: Homecoming*.
The new manager has already worked with by James Hannan during the production of *Guardians of the Galaxy*. In Skydance It is hoped that this experience will help ensure the continuity of DC Studios’ creative work following the change in leadership.
Why is DC Studios changing its management?
Hann and Saffron took the helm at DC Studios in 2022, tasked with relaunching the superhero cinematic universe and creating a competitive franchise to rival Marvel.
One of the key achievements of their work was the 2025 film *Superman*, which grossed over $618 million at the global box office. Meanwhile, *Supergirl*, released in the summer of 2026, grossed around $126 million on a production budget of $170 million.
These personnel changes are taking place shortly after the completion of the major deal to see Warner Bros. Discovery taken over by Paramount in October 2026. The new owner is reviewing the management structure of the film studios, particularly the DC division.
Following the announcement of his resignation, Gunn himself admitted that running a major studio had proved challenging. The director noted that the corporate side of the job took up a lot of time that he had wanted to devote to his creative work.
What will happen to «Superman» and «Batman 2»?»
Despite their resignations, James Gunn and Peter Safran are not ending their collaboration with DC. They are returning to their roles as screenwriters, directors and producers.
Hann continues to work on the film «Superman: Man of Tomorrow», which is scheduled for release on 9 July 2027. The film will continue the story of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, which began in the previous film.
«Batman 2» also remains on DC Studios’ production schedule, with Robert Pattinson, which is due for release in 2028. In addition, the studio continues to develop television and animation projects, including *Lights* and *Monster Commandos*.
The new head, Jeremy Letchem, will be responsible for the franchise’s future strategy, whilst Gunn and Safran will focus on the actual production of the films.
