James Gunn wasn’t entirely happy as DC Studios co-chief anyway.
That’s according to Gunn, who posted a farewell message on Instagram in the wake of the surprising news that he and Peter Safran were exiting the top studio roles and Marvel veteran Jeremy Latcham was taking over.
The Superman and Guardians of the Galaxy director expressed eagerness to return to full-time creative work rather than split his attention with managing a studio.
“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,” he wrote. “I dislike the at-times corporate nature of the job (thanks to Peter for taking the brunt of that) … 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 … 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.”
Gunn also had praise for some of the “high points” of the job such as releasing Superman and Clayface, and making the HBO series Peacemaker — though notably didn’t mention the box office disappointment Supergirl.
“That’s not to say Peter and I are immediately done with DC or superheroes,” Gunn added. “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.”
The exit news came in the wake of Skydance completing its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery last month and despite Gunn being apparently reassured that he would continue at the studio. Latcham has credits on many MCU titles (including Gunn’s first Guardians) and has been considered Marvel head Kevin Feige’s right-hand man.
Gunn’s full note is below.
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 I just couldn’t pass up the unique opportunity. I’m glad I took the job.
There have been so many highs along the way — releasing Superman and Clayface, making Peacemaker, reading the scripts to [The People v. Gorilla Grodd], 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.
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 Oath 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.
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