It seems the long search for a Kevin Feige-like figurehead for the DC Comics film and television projects for Warner Bros. Discovery has come to an end. But no one in the industry predicted that it would be two people taking the helm of the former DC Films division. What does this mean for the future of the DC Extended Universe? Find out everything known about this unprecedented move so far.
The news broke across entertainment news and social media, such as The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.
Filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran have been tapped to lead DC’s film, TV and animation efforts as co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios, a new division that will replace DC Films: https://t.co/ZPFvTHXFok pic.twitter.com/ASTsjXUxgC — The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 25, 2022 According to the reports, both James Gunn and Peter Safran will be co-chairman and co-CEOs of Warner Bros. Discovery’s division for DC Comics IPs for movies and television. On that note, DC Films is being changed to DC Studios, echoing their rival Marvel Studios for Disney, as previously reported. Based on the reports, it seems Safran was being considered as early as the search for a Kevin Feige-like studio head started. Safran was one of the voices being consulted at the time Dan Lin was the top choice for the position. After Dan Lin declined the offer, Safran was again placed in consideration. However, Safran would not accept it unless someone else would be the creative arm. Enter James Gunn. Aside from Gunn’s prior experience with working on superhero projects with both Marvel and DC, Gunn and Safran have a mutually beneficial working relationship. The two already collaborated on The Suicide Squad and HBO Max’s Peacemaker series.
Official WBD announcement
In a memo issued by David Zaslav to the internal staff at Warner Bros. Discovery, the company’s CEO announced Gunn and Safran’s new positions: Zaslav mentioned that the two will be reporting directly to him, while also working closely with the rest of Warner Bros. Pictures, particularly Mike De Luca and Pamela Abdy. Moreover, the CEO emphasized the importance of the IPs from the DC Comics source material and giving them the proper attention they deserve: Zaslav continued by giving insight on why the pair of Gunn and Safran were selected to take up the reins of DC Studios, based on their prior success: The full transcript of David Zaslav’s internal memo can be found on the Deadline report. Meanwhile, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy congratulated Gunn and Safran for their new role in steering DC Studios projects: It is interesting to note that Zaslav, De Luca, and Abdy use DC Universe in their terminology in reference to the brand, instead of the previously established DC Extended Universe. It could mean that DC Films being rebranded to DC Studios will also lead to a rebranding of their cinematic universe. However, it could also simply mean that they are referring to the entire spectrum of projects that will be based on DC IPs. After all, the DC Extended Universe is considered separate from the continuity of Todd Phillips’s Joker and Matt Reeves’s The Batman. In their new position, James Gunn and Peter Safran will oversee all of these under DC Studios.
What about Gunn’s Marvel projects?
With Gunn’s ascension as an executive for DC Studios, where does this leave his Marvel Studios projects? Reportedly, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be his last Marvel projects. Gunn is apparently done directing both. The holiday special is scheduled to air on Disney+ on November 25. Meanwhile, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is on target for its theatrical release on May 5, 2023. Once Gunn’s new role as a DC Studios executive becomes effective, he will be exclusive for only Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios. Meanwhile, Peter Safran’s The Safran Company will be run by its current president of production John Rickard. After the box office success of Black Adam and the return of Henry Cavill as Superman, it seems Dwayne Johnson’s line of the hierarchy of power in the DC Universe will change has become prophetic in the literal sense. James Gunn and Peter Safran will officially begin as co-chair and co-CEO of DC Studios on November 1, 2022.
