James Gunn and Peter Safran To Lead DC Studios As Co-CEOs: “We’re Excited to Invigorate The Theatrical Experience”

DC has found its new leaders! It was announced today that filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran will take over the roles of co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios, which has replaced DC Films.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Safran and Gunn have been in talks to take over their respective roles since the summer. They are expected to step into their new positions on November 1. The current agreement sees The Suicide Squad writer-director heading DC’s creative side, while Safran will manage business and production duties.

David Zaslav, who will oversee their work, said, “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.”

He continued, “Their decades of experience in filmmaking, close ties to the creative community, and proven track record thrilling superhero fans around the globe make them uniquely qualified to develop a long-term strategy across film, TV, and animation, and take this iconic franchise to the next level of creative storytelling.”

The two will succeed former president Walter Hamada, who expressed interest in leaving DC after Zaslav shelved the highly-anticipated release of Batgirl, citing that he wasn’t consulted on the decision. He decided to stick around for the release of Black Adam, but officially departed the studio on October 19, 2022. During his tenure, Hamada oversaw the release of studio hits The Conjuring, Aquaman, The Batman, and more.

In a shared statement, Gunn and Safran said, “We’re honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we’ve loved since we were children. 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.”

They added, “Our commitment to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Harley Quinn, and the rest of the DC stable of characters is only equaled by our commitment to the wonder of human possibility these characters represent. We’re excited to invigorate the theatrical experience around the world as we tell some of the biggest, most beautiful, and grandest stories ever told.”

Gunn’s resume boasts a variety of projects, including work from both direct competitors Marvel and DC. He helmed Guardians of the Galaxy and its subsequent installments (including today’s announced holiday special), The Suicide Squad (along with Safran), and served as an executive producer on Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. And Safran, who has had a first-look deal with Warner Bros. since 2019, is best known for producing the films within The Conjuring franchise, Aquaman, and the HBO Max series Peacemaker, which was spun from Gunn’s DC film.