By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
DC Studios has unveiled their secret weapon in their battle for dominance in the lucrative world of superhero films and series.
Film industry stalwarts James Gunn and Peter Safran have been appointed to the new roles of Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of DC Studios.
The appointment comes with tremendous power over the future of DC, as they will oversee the overall creative direction of the DC Universe across film, TV, and animation under a single banner.
The move is seen by industry analysts as a way to bring DC the same success Marvel has enjoyed by creating a cohesive DC Universe with a central story line that extends through the comic pioneer’s hundreds of characters and comic brands.
On the bright side, Warner and DC have made some great films from DC Comics brands, particularly the Dark Knight series and the recent Joker, but those films are not integrated into the wider DCU the company has been trying to launch. Films that were part of the DCU have seen uneven success.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is clearly doing a top-down restructuring as it recently appointed David Zaslav as president and CEO, who promptly sent a clear message by killing the planned release of Batgirl.
“We’re not going to launch a movie to make a quarter and we’re not going to put a movie out unless we believe in it,” said an unapologetic Zaslav, even as WBD announced it was seeking new talent to run its troubled DC Studios.
Gunn and Safran will report directly to Zaslav and will work closely with Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, Co-Chairpersons and CEOs of Warner Bros. Film Group. The appointments will be effective on November 1.
In their new roles, DC says Gunn and Safran will spearhead the development and execution of a long-term plan for the many properties licensed from DC Comics, focused on continuing the tradition of high-quality storytelling for the DC Universe across audio-visual media, while building a sustainable growth business out of the iconic franchise.
In addition to their executive responsibilities, Gunn and Safran will develop, direct, and produce projects. In their new roles, they will also work collaboratively with Channing Dungey, Chairman, Warner Bros. Television Group; Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content; Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group; Pam Lifford, President, Warner Bros. Discovery Consumer Products; and David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
Both Gunn and Safran have extensive experience with the superhero genre having brought some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Universe’s most popular characters to life in hit films and series that include: Marvel’s blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, and DC’s highest grossing movie, Aquaman; Shazam!; The Suicide Squad; and the HBO Max original, live-action series Peacemaker.
“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. “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.”
The move appears to make a lot of sense for Gunn and Safran, both of whom are dedicated comics fanboys, and who are both looking for a bigger challenge. Gunn in particular has come to the end of his run with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, and it made sense for him to move to DC, where he directed Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, turning B-List comics characters into a major franchise.
Gunn has been responsible for a vast portfolio of critically acclaimed films and series, including: Warner Bros. live-action movies, Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2; a remake of George A Romero’s Dawn of the Dead; the horror comedy Slither; the dark superhero comedy Super; the hugely successful Marvel films Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2; DC’s The Suicide Squad and the spin-off series for HBO Max, Peacemaker. With the release of The Suicide Squad in 2021, Gunn became the first filmmaker to direct a movie for both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe.
Safran has produced numerous films for Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, and other film studios, and in particular produced DC’s highest grossing movie, Aquaman and was already slated to produce its upcoming sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Safran has also produced surprise hit Shazam and will produce its upcoming sequel Shazam: Fury of the Gods; and was the producer on Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.
Safran is probably best known for horror movies, having produced Annabelle and the entire Conjuring universe, the most successful horror franchise of all time at $2B+ in worldwide box office and counting.
Safran’s production company, The Safran Company, recently re-upped its long-term production deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, and has four theatrical releases scheduled for 2023, including The Nun 2, which is the sequel to the highest grossing title in the Conjuring universe, The Nun.
Prior to forming his own company, Safran was President of Brillstein-Grey Management, which represented some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Among other luminaries, Safran actually represent Gunn, so the two men are used to working together.
“We’re honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we’ve loved since we were children,” said Gunn and Safran in a joint 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.
“Most of all, we can’t wait to bring you all into the story of the DCU.”