In a bold unexpected move, Warner Bros. Discovery has appointed filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran to lead DC’s film, TV and animation ventures as co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios.
Gunn and Safran will now oversee film, TV, and animation at DC Studios. They will assume their new roles from the 1st of November. They will report to Warner Bros. Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav and will work closely with Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, co-chairpersons and CEOs of Warner Bros. Film Group. Both are also expected to continue to work on other projects outside of DC.
“We’re honoured to be the stewards of these DC characters we’ve loved since we were children,” said Gunn and Safran. “We look forward to collaborating with the most talented writers, directors, and actors in the world to create an integrated, multilayered universe that still allows for the individual expression of the artists involved. Our commitment to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Harley Quinn, and the rest of the DC stable of characters is only equalled by our commitment to the wonder of human possibility these characters represent.
The newly formed division at Warner Bros. will replace DC Films and marks the end of a long search by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to replace exiting DC Films boss Walter Hamada.
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Zaslav says in a statement “DC has among the most entertaining, powerful, and iconic characters in the world and I am thrilled to have the singular and complementary talents of James and Peter joining our world-class team and overseeing the creative direction of the storied DC Universe,”
As well as his run at the helm of Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ Gunn also wrote and directed the soft reboot of ‘The Suicide Squad’ for DC and created the HBO Max spinoff series ‘Peacemaker.’
Safran has produced several DC films, including ‘Aquaman’ and its upcoming sequel, ‘Shazam’ and its upcoming sequel, as well as ‘The Suicide Squad’ and ‘Peacemaker’ with Gunn.
