James Gunn Speaks Out After Stepping Down at DC, Says It Had ‘Highest of Highs’ but ‘Has Been Trying’: ‘I Dislike the At-Times Corporate Nature of the Job’
In a surprise move, Skydance has replaced James Gunn and Peter Safran at the helm of DC Studios, naming Marvel veteran Jeremy Latcham as president and chief creative officer. The shift concludes Gunn and Safran’s four-year run leading the DC universe, during which they developed major projects such as "Superman," "Supergirl," "Clayface," and the HBO series "Lanterns."
Addressing his departure in an open statement, Gunn expressed gratitude to fans and praised Safran, but spoke candidly about the significant challenges of the executive post. Describing the past four years as trying, Gunn admitted he disliked the corporate nature of the job, which Safran largely shielded him from, and shared that the position severely cut into his personal life and time to unwind. He also noted that managing executive duties alongside creative work proved especially difficult with his ADHD hyperfocus.
While relieved and eager to return to pure filmmaking, Gunn emphasized that he and Safran are not immediately walking away from DC. Beyond releasing "Man of Tomorrow" this summer—which Gunn called the best filmmaking experience of his life—he has already begun writing another DC project, ensuring the characters and groundwork they established will continue under Latcham’s leadership.
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