Warner Bros. have found their new head for DC Studios with filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran set to lead the studios film, TV and animation efforts.
The duo will serve as co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios, a newly formed division at Warner Bros. that will replace DC Films.
This marks the end of a months-long search by Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav to replace the former head of DC, Walter Hamada. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn will focus on the creative side, while Safran will focus on the business and production side of things. The deal keeps the award winning Gunn tied to DC not just as a producer, but as an executive.
“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,” Zaslav said in a statement. “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.”
For James Gunn, he’s been a well known name in the world of superhero movies recently. Back in 2014, he came into the limelight with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and its 2017 sequel. Then in 2018, he switched over to the DC side to develop The Suicide Squad and then the hit HBO Max spinoff Peacemaker, starring John Cena.
Safran on the other hand came up as a manager, handling superstar clients including Gunn. He’s also credited as a producer for DC’s $1 billion grossing Aquaman and its upcoming sequel, as well as The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker and Shazam!
“We’re honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we’ve loved since we were children,” Gunn and Safran said in a statement. “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. 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.”
