Warner Bros. Discovery has found its new DC leader and it's none other than James Gunn and producer Peter Safran.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, WB Discovery has tapped director James Gunn to become co-CEO of DC Studios, a new division at Warner Bros that will replace DC Films and oversee DC's film, TV, 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 keep producing. Both now report to WB Discovery CEO David Zaslav directly.
Gunn and Safran will have the top executive post overseeing DC movies, TV, and animations and ends a months-long search for someone to replace outgoing boss 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 will occupy a Kevin Feige-like role and oversee an overall strategy for its movies.
These people turned out to be director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran, who has worked heavily with DC director James Wan on The Conjuring 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 DC Studios boss has taken several turns. The previous head, Walter Hamada, clashed with Warner Bros. Discovery leadership, particularly over actions like canceling the mostly completed Batgirl movie.
The studio seemed poised to appoint Dan Lin as the new boss, but negotiations fell apart and Lin declined to take the position.
The appointment won't unify every DC project at WB Discovery. Todd Phillips' Joker 2 will not be under Gunn and Safran's studio, and Matt Reeves' The Batman universe may not go under Gunn and Safran either. However, all future projects moving forward will be under the two's DC Studios banner.
Does Gunn's appointment as creative boss over DC sound exciting? Let us know in the comments.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
