James Gunn and Peter Safran named heads of DC Studios

[Metallo]

www.darkhorizons.com/gunn-safran-set-to-run-dc-studios/

James Gunn, Peter Safran To Run DC Studios

By Garth Franklin
Tuesday, October 25th 2022 1:26 pm

DC has found its Kevin Feige – or rather Feiges.

Filmmaker James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Peacemaker”) and producer Peter Safran (“Aquaman,” “The Conjuring”) have been set to lead DC’s film, TV and animation efforts as co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios.

DC Studios is a newly formed division at Warner Bros. that will replace DC Films and marks the end of a months-long search by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to replace exiting DC Films boss Walter Hamada.

Gunn will handle the creative side, while Safran will focus on the business and production side. Both are expected to continue to direct and produce projects, respectively.

Both will report directly to Zaslav, and work closely with Warners film bosses Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy. The initial overture to the pair reportedly came from De Luca over the summer.

One exception will be Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie a Deux” which will not fall under their purview and will be overseen by De Luca and Abdy. It’s not clear at present how much involvement they’ll have in Matt Reeves’ Batman projects. Everything else DC though will come under them.

Zaslav says 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.”

Gunn and Safran will work with top execs at Warners, including WBTV’s Channing Dungey and HBO’s Casey Bloys, among others. DC Studios will share resources across the company.

The hiring comes into effect on November 1st with the deal to last four years. Gunn’s new projects will be exclusive to DC during that term.

Source: THR

[crazy_asian_man]

I don't have much faith that Gunn will be there long- if he is and things work out, great, but call me very skeptical....

I also wonder- is Cavill returning as Supes something Gunn wanted? Or is he inheriting as a mandated?

[Metallo]

Oct 25, 2022 21:17:09 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

I don't have much faith that Gunn will be there long- if he is and things work out, great, but call me very skeptical....

I also wonder- is Cavill returning as Supes something Gunn wanted? Or is he inheriting as a mandated?

Supposedly it’s a four year contract but Im also wary of how long he will last. He’s going to have to work with a lot of people who want to do their own thing and new management that will want fast results. I question if they will get out of Gunns way and really give him the control he needs to do things his way. Seems like Cavill’s return was already a done deal before this Gunn announcement though I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Gunn have had some talks before how. But Him being back as Superman was probably going to happen no matter who got put in charge.

[crazy_asian_man]

Oct 25, 2022 23:00:50 GMT -5 Metallo said:

Oct 25, 2022 21:17:09 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

I don't have much faith that Gunn will be there long- if he is and things work out, great, but call me very skeptical....

I also wonder- is Cavill returning as Supes something Gunn wanted? Or is he inheriting as a mandated?

Supposedly it’s a four year contract but Im also wary of how long he will last. He’s going to have to work with a lot of people who want to do their own thing and new management that will want fast results. I question if they will get out of Gunns way and really give him the control he needs to do things his way. Seems like Cavill’s return was already a done deal before this Gunn announcement though I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Gunn have had some talks before how. But Him being back as Superman was probably going to happen no matter who got put in charge.

It's hard to say- Bryan Singer did say that WB let him do what he wanted. Nolan said mostly the same except for killing off Batman. Maybe they will let him alone- but... I think with Suicide Squad disappointing box office wise, that they won't let him have that much freedom-If things last 4 years, I'll be greatly suprised... but, will see...

[Metallo]

Oct 25, 2022 23:43:36 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

Oct 25, 2022 23:00:50 GMT -5 Metallo said:

Supposedly it’s a four year contract but Im also wary of how long he will last. He’s going to have to work with a lot of people who want to do their own thing and new management that will want fast results. I question if they will get out of Gunns way and really give him the control he needs to do things his way. Seems like Cavill’s return was already a done deal before this Gunn announcement though I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Gunn have had some talks before how. But Him being back as Superman was probably going to happen no matter who got put in charge.

It's hard to say- Bryan Singer did say that WB let him do what he wanted. Nolan said mostly the same except for killing off Batman. Maybe they will let him alone- but... I think with Suicide Squad disappointing box office wise, that they won't let him have that much freedom-If things last 4 years, I'll be greatly suprised... but, will see...

The difference there was Singer and Nolan were directors with some kind of track records to look at wether it was critically or commercially or both and most of all the Superman and Batman franchises were dead in the water. There was nothing to lose.

Gunns acting as an executive over it all for a studio that’s billions of dollars in debt and want results. Zaslav is a numbers guy not an artistically minded leader like some past studio owners and studio heads. Magnify that when they see the kind of money Marvel Studios and the MCU are bringing in.

That’s been one of the biggest things driving everything WB has done with DC over the last ten years. They want their piece of the pie that’s just as big. There will be pressure on Gunn to produce and if he doesn’t it’ll only increase.

[crazy_asian_man]

Oct 26, 2022 12:32:59 GMT -5 Metallo said:

Oct 25, 2022 23:43:36 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

It's hard to say- Bryan Singer did say that WB let him do what he wanted. Nolan said mostly the same except for killing off Batman. Maybe they will let him alone- but... I think with Suicide Squad disappointing box office wise, that they won't let him have that much freedom-If things last 4 years, I'll be greatly suprised... but, will see...

The difference there was Singer and Nolan were directors with some kind of track records to look at wether it was critically or commercially or both and most of all the Superman and Batman franchises were dead in the water. There was nothing to lose.

Gunns acting as an executive over it all for a studio that’s billions of dollars in debt and want results. Zaslav is a numbers guy not an artistically minded leader like some past studio owners and studio heads. Magnify that when they see the kind of money Marvel Studios and the MCU are bringing in.

That’s been one of the biggest things driving everything WB has done with DC over the last ten years. They want their piece of the pie that’s just as big. There will be pressure on Gunn to produce and if he doesn’t it’ll only increase.

It is suprising they chose Gunn, given the box office disappointment not just of Suicide Squad, but of Brightburn underwhelming as well. I agree- the pressure will be there to produce results- quick. But how quick can it possibly be, is the question.

[Metallo]

Oct 27, 2022 2:30:55 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

Oct 26, 2022 12:32:59 GMT -5 Metallo said:

The difference there was Singer and Nolan were directors with some kind of track records to look at wether it was critically or commercially or both and most of all the Superman and Batman franchises were dead in the water. There was nothing to lose.

Gunns acting as an executive over it all for a studio that’s billions of dollars in debt and want results. Zaslav is a numbers guy not an artistically minded leader like some past studio owners and studio heads. Magnify that when they see the kind of money Marvel Studios and the MCU are bringing in.

That’s been one of the biggest things driving everything WB has done with DC over the last ten years. They want their piece of the pie that’s just as big. There will be pressure on Gunn to produce and if he doesn’t it’ll only increase.

It is suprising they chose Gunn, given the box office disappointment not just of Suicide Squad, but of Brightburn underwhelming as well. I agree- the pressure will be there to produce results- quick. But how quick can it possibly be, is the question.

The thing is Gunn has big previous box office hits he can point to that were also critically acclaimed. Even The Suicide Squad was well received by people who actually saw it even if it didn’t make money. Part of that can also be blamed on WB’s foolish day and date streaming/theatrical release strategy that cut into the films box office. Peacemaker was also one of the most well regarded DC shows of the modern era. In terms of quality Gunns shown himself to be one of the best creators in the DC Films stable.