James Gunn DC Exit: What Happens to Superman, Batman Plans
James Gunn and Peter Safran are out as CEOs and chairmen of DC Studios after four years. Marvel veteran Jeremy Latcham can now steer the studio. Here is what is known about Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the other projects left in limbo.
James Gunn and Peter Safran are out as the CEOs and chairmen of DC Studios, and DC is in flux. Fans now want to know what happens to James Gunn’s Batman, Superman and the rest of the slate he built.
The pair ran the studio for four years. They leave behind a cinematic universe with few fixed plans.
What Gunn and Safran leave behind
The first film of their reboot, 2025’s “Superman,” starred David Corenswet as the Man of Steel and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. It earned $618 million at the worldwide box office.
“Supergirl” did far worse. It took in $126 million against a $170 million budget.
Their last big-screen release, “Clayface,” opened in late October and pulled in $109 million from a $44 million budget. On television, HBO’s “Peacemaker” and “Lanterns” filled the gaps between films with early hints that the stories connect.
Commitments still ahead
Gunn and Safran will finish their remaining creative commitments with DC Studios. The biggest is the “Superman” sequel, “Man of Tomorrow,” which wrapped filming in late August.
Corenswet, Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan and Skyler Gisondo return. Lars Eidinger joins as Brainiac and Adria Arjona as Maxima, though rumors say she is actually playing Wonder Woman. Gunn wrote and directed the film, set for next summer.
A free hand for Latcham
Jeremy Latcham comes in from Marvel. He produced superhero tentpoles including “Iron Man,” “The Avengers” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
With little continuity locked in, he can take DC in almost any direction. Whether Corenswet stays or Latcham brings in a new vision is unknown. Superman was the face of the new universe, which makes a recast look unlikely.
Batman, Harley Quinn and other projects
Gunn recently said he is searching for his own DCU Batman, separate from Matt Reeves’ version. He had planned to cast a new Batman in the rebooted universe. There has also been talk of bringing Margot Robbie back as Harley Quinn.
James Mangold’s “Swamp Thing” and the long-rumored “Wonder Woman” film remain at varying stages of development.
Reeves’ “Batman,” with Robert Pattinson, grossed $772.8 million globally and sits outside Gunn and Safran’s universe. “The Batman: Part II” is slated for Feb. 18, 2028. Reeves stepped away from production because of a family matter, and Steven Soderbergh helped finish the shoot. Reeves has spoken of a Batman trilogy, but it is now unclear whether that continues under new leadership.
