Warner Bros. Discovery has found its new DC leaders: James Gunn and producer Peter Safran.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. Discovery has tapped director James Gunn to become co-general manager of DC Studios, a new division of Warner Bros that will replace DC Films and will oversee DC’s film, television and animation projects.
According to the report, Gunn will focus on the creative side of the studio, while Safran will handle the business and production elements.. Gunn will also continue to direct projects exclusively for DC in his new role, while Safran will continue to produce. Both now report directly to the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav.
Gunn and Safran will occupy the top executive position which oversees DC’s movies, television and animation and ends a months-long search to replace Walter Hamada, who left the studio last week.
Since the Warner Bros Discovery merger, Zaslav has been looking for a new boss for DC Studios, someone who would fill a role similar to Kevin Feige at Marvel and oversee an overall strategy for its films and series.
These people turned out to be director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran, who has worked extensively with director James Wan on the Warren Files horror universe, as well as Aquaman and The Suicide Squad.
Gunn also confirmed his new role on Twitter.
Accurate. So pleased to be here. #DC pic.twitter.com/KpvdME4Pju
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 25, 2022
The search for a new head of DC Studios has taken several turns. Previous boss Walter Hamada clashed with Warner Bros. Discovery’s management, most notably over actions like the cancellation of the near-finished Batgirl movie. The studio seemed willing to appoint Dan Lin as the new boss, but negotiations fell through and Lin declined to accept the position.
The appointment will not unify all DC projects at Warner Bros. Discovery. Todd Phillips’ Joker 2 won’t be under Gunn and Safran’s studio, and Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe may not be under Gunn and Safran either. However, all future projects moving forward will be under the DC Studios banner.
