James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-CEOs of DC Studios, with former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham appointed as the division’s new president and chief creative officer, in a major leadership shake-up at the comic book entertainment giant.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that the change, announced by Skydance, will take effect on 1 December, ending Gunn and Safran’s four-year tenure at the helm of DC Studios.

Latcham, who worked closely with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and has credits on several major superhero franchises, will lead DC’s film, television and animation operations, overseeing its creative pipeline, production, talent and strategy.

Gunn and Safran will remain involved in some projects as producers and return their focus to creative work. Gunn is currently working on the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, which is in post-production ahead of a planned release next year. The television spin-off The People v Gorilla Grodd is also in post-production.

The pair will also remain producers on The Batman: Part II, scheduled for release in 2028. Gunn revealed in an Instagram post on Monday that he is writing another, undisclosed DC film, adding that the characters introduced during their tenure would continue beyond their departure.

Reflecting on his time in the executive role, Gunn described the experience as “trying, to say the least.” He added, “I dislike the at-times corporate nature of the job [thanks to Peter for taking the brunt of that.].”

Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz praised the outgoing executives in a joint statement.

“James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation, resetting the foundation and building a slate we’re incredibly proud of,” they said. “We’re grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand.”

They also expressed confidence in Latcham’s appointment, saying, “Jeremy has been a longtime creative partner to both, and we have complete confidence that James and Peter will ensure a smooth, collaborative transition and continue this work with care. We look forward to working with Jeremy to build the next generation of DC storytelling and to doubling down on our commitment to fans.”

Latcham joined Marvel Studios in 2004 as one of its earliest employees and eventually became senior vice-president of production and development. He worked on Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

He also collaborated with Gunn on the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy, which helped establish Gunn as a major Hollywood filmmaker.

Under the new arrangement, Latcham will report to Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group. This marks a change from the previous leadership structure, under which Gunn and Safran reported directly to Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav before the merger and later to Ellison.

“DC’s pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture,” Latcham said in a statement. “I’ve had the privilege to help bring some of the most celebrated superhero stories to life on the big screen, and I’m excited and honored for the opportunity to now lead DC Studios into its next era. The chance to steward the incredible cast of DC characters to the screen in a way that excites lifelong fans while introducing their timeless stories to the next generation is a massive responsibility that I do not take lightly.”

The leadership change has raised questions about whether Gunn and Safran chose to leave or were pushed out. Before the merger, Ellison visited the set of Man of Tomorrow, an appearance widely seen as a sign of support for the pair. They had also presented their long-term plans for DC to him in recent weeks.

Sources previously told The Hollywood Reporter that Ellison had encouraged the duo to continue their work. “David knows everything… he’s been great with us,” Gunn told the publication last month, discussing how he kept Ellison informed about their broader vision.

Gunn and Safran took charge of DC Studios with the aim of bringing its film and television projects under a unified creative direction and moving beyond the legacy of the Zack Snyder era. Their tenure included the launch of a new Superman film, alongside projects such as Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface.

In a joint statement reflecting on their time at the studio, the pair said, “Four years ago, we set out to unite DC under one creative vision. In that time, we helped restore Superman to the heart of DC, while opening new doors and telling new stories in film and television with Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface. We’re immensely proud of the team that turned that ambition into something real, including the actors, crews and executives we had the opportunity to collaborate with.”

They also welcomed Latcham’s appointment and expressed enthusiasm about returning to filmmaking.

“We’ve shared a creative history with Jeremy going back to Marvel, and we’re eager to see the perspective he brings to DC’s next chapter. We’re excited to return to what drew us to this job in the first place, which is telling the stories we love, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s journey in Man of Tomorrow.”