James Gunn Breaks Silence on DC Studios Exit, Reveals “Trying” Four Years and Teases New DC Project

James Gunn has stepped away from running DC Studios, but he isn’t finished playing in the DC Universe. Following the surprising news that Gunn and Peter Safran are leaving their positions as co-CEOs a year before their contracts expire, the filmmaker has opened up about the challenges of running the studio, his excitement about returning to filmmaking, and another DC project he's already writing.

The announcement caught plenty of DC fans off guard, especially since Gunn and Safran appeared to have the support of David Ellison following Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. There had even been talk of a long-term plan for the DCU under their leadership. Now, that plan is entering a new chapter with different people calling the shots.

Gunn addressed the news in a lengthy statement on Threads, admitting that his four years at DC Studios had been much more difficult than most people realized.

While he's grateful for the opportunity to work with some of his favorite comic book characters, Gunn explained that the corporate responsibilities and constant demands of running a studio took a serious toll on his personal life.

He also admitted that dividing his attention between projects he was passionate about and the many other responsibilities of overseeing DC Studios was particularly challenging.

It's understandable when you look at just how much Gunn has taken on. He wrote every episode of Creature Commandos, wrote and directed Superman, and wrote the entire second season of Peacemaker while also directing three episodes.

That's a ridiculous amount of creative work for one person, especially someone who was also responsible for helping build an interconnected superhero franchise and approving other DC projects. That doesn’t even include the amount of time he spends arguing with fans of social media!

His DC journey actually started before he became studio co-head, with 2021's The Suicide Squad. That film introduced John Cena as Peacemaker and established characters and storylines that would continue to play important roles in Gunn's DC Universe.

He followed that with a new take on Superman starring David Corenswet, which became the centerpiece of his DCU plans. Gunn also moved quickly on the Superman follow-up, Man of Tomorrow, which is now in post-production and is scheduled to arrive in summer 2027.

Despite the difficulties, Gunn had plenty of positive things to say about his time at DC, particularly his creative collaborators, the fans, and Safran, whom he praised as both an incredible business partner and a close friend.

One of the more interesting revelations from his statement is that Gunn and Safran aren't completely walking away from DC. Gunn confirmed that he's already been hired to write another DC project beyond Man of Tomorrow. He didn't reveal what it is or whether he'll direct it, but it sounds like he could remain involved with the franchise creatively even after giving up his executive position.

That's certainly encouraging for fans who have enjoyed what Gunn has been building. His departure from studio leadership doesn't necessarily mean his version of the DCU is coming to an end.

There are still plenty of questions about what led to Gunn and Safran leaving their positions early. It's unclear whether the decision came primarily from their desire to move away from studio management or whether Skydance leadership wants to take DC Studios in a different direction.

Whatever the reason, Gunn sounds ready to put the executive responsibilities aside and focus on the part of the business he loves most: making movies.

Here's Gunn's full statement:

Oh, boy. What a four years. Thanks to all of you who have supported me and Peter in our time as the heads of DC Studios.

When I was a kid growing up in Manchester, Missouri, I used to write and draw my own comics with a mix of DC Comics characters and my own characters. Having full access to these characters to do whatever we wanted has been a dream come true. I didn’t know if I wanted this job when it was offered to me, but | just couldn’t pass up the unique opportunity. I’m glad I took the job.

But what only the closest people to me have known over the past four years is my time at DC Studios has been trying, to say the least. I dislike the at-times corporate nature of the job (thanks to Peter for taking the brunt of that). I’m always a very hard worker, but as a filmmaker I would at least get to take short breaks to unwind, and I’ve stolen even that time from both myself and my loved ones over the past four years (Jenn, I love you and I’m sorry and you don’t need to feel guilty for being the happiest of all people that I’m no longer doing this job). And the thing my ADHD hyperfocus has had the most difficulty with has been dividing my time between projects I’m incredibly passionate about and the ones I’m not so much and all the things I have to do as a studio head.

There have been so many highs along the way — releasing Superman and Clayface, making Peacemaker, reading the scripts to The People Vs, the entire process of Man of Tomorrow, which thus far has been the best filmmaking experience of my life, and numerous other moments.

The highest of the highs have been all the talented and wonderful people I’ve worked with and grown to love: the DC Studios crew, our talented collaborators, our casts and crews, and the boisterous and hilarious fans. And the best part of all has been working with Peter Safran, the smartest and most competent person I know. You’ve been the best partner a person could ask for, and, more so, a truly good friend.

So, yes, I will miss the people around me, and I will miss being the co-caretaker of these great characters, but I’m also incredibly relieved and excited to get back to pure filmmaking. That’s not to say Peter and I are immediately done with DC or superheroes. We have Man of Tomorrow out this summer. And we’ve just been engaged on another DC project which I’m writing, and we’ll see where it goes after that. And, of course, the characters we set up will live on.

Thank you so very, very much for embracing the characters and stories we’ve put on screen.

Love and gratitude,

James Gunn

It's unfortunate to see Gunn and Safran leave DC Studios leadership before getting to fully realize their plans, but it also sounds like the demanding nature of the job had become too much for Gunn.

The good news is that he still wants to tell stories in this universe, and having more time to concentrate on writing and directing could be a great thing for his future projects.

For now, Man of Tomorrow is still on the way, another mystery DC project is in development, and the characters Gunn helped establish will continue under the studio's next leadership team.

The big question is whether the new DC Studios bosses will continue building on Gunn and Safran's vision or decide to take the DCU somewhere else entirely.