Are James Gunn's Days "Numbered" As DC Studios Co-CEO? Here's The Latest On Online Rumors

Over the weekend, a hard-to-believe rumor started doing the rounds online, claiming that James Gunn's days as DC Studios co-CEO are "numbered." A more reliable source, however, has set the record straight.

News

By JoshWilding - Oct 14, 2025 11:10 AM EST

Filed Under: DC Studios

James Gunn was appointed DC Studios co-CEO alongside veteran film producer Peter Safran at the end of 2022. The newly launched studio announced a DCU slate—"Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters"—at the start of 2023, and while a few of those movies and TV shows have failed to materialise, things have gotten off to a solid start for the brand.

Creature Commandos and Peacemaker are said to have done solid viewership numbers on HBO Max, with critics responding positively to both shows (even if fans were divided on the latter's Season 2 finale). As for Superman, it will end 2025 as the year's highest-grossing superhero movie.

Over the weekend, a report from the notoriously unreliable Cosmic Book News made some wild, downright unbelievable claims about Gunn's future as DC Studios co-CEO.

Among the wildest claims were plans to oust Gunn if Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, successfully acquires Warner Bros. Discovery.

According to the site, "If David Ellison buys Warner Bros. Discovery...James Gunn will be out. David Ellison’s father, billionaire David Ellison, is close to President Donald Trump. Back to David Ellison, I’m told Mike De Luca will take over DC."

Pretty much everyone ignored the report because, well, the site is known for making up bogus stories. However, the "news" started gaining traction on social media, with many fans and fan accounts claiming that the clock was ticking on Gunn's time in charge of the DCU.

On the latest edition of The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider debunked Cosmic Book News' claims, describing them as "BS" and sharing his belief that the site has no legitimate sources. He also pointed out how unrealistic it would be for Mike De Luca to take charge of the DC Universe.

Paramount acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery is off the table, so this is all a moot point, regardless. There's no reason for anyone to fire Gunn from his position, especially as he's well on the way to restoring a brand that was on its last legs before DC Studios came along. Now, the tide is clearly turning.

If Supergirl and Clayface bomb in 2025, then perhaps questions will be raised, but there's plenty of excitement for both movies. Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, is also shaping up to be a hit, especially as all signs point to Supes and Lex Luthor teaming up to battle Brainiac.

"It’s challenging because my experience is being writer and director," Gunn recently said about focusing on being an executive rather than a creative in 2026. "I’ve produced some things, but it doesn’t feel like it comes as naturally to me. So that is just about trying to be the best producer I can."

"I’m focused on supporting those creators the best I can to help them tell good stories," he continued. "I’m beholden to the story in those things as much as I am to the stories in my own stuff. So, my central concern is the same whether it’s a movie I’m directing or someone else is directing."

How would you rate the DCU's first year of releases under Gunn and Safran's watch?

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39 Comments

HelloBoysImBack - 10/14/2025, 11:46 AM

0bstreperous - 10/14/2025, 11:49 AM

Good riddance

Bucky74 - 10/14/2025, 12:14 PM

@0bstreperous - Unless Gun has something on whoever buys, he’s 100 percent out. This is a business, one that’s extremely hard to break into. If a new writer made films and TV series this divisive and commercially unsuccessful, they’d be done. How can you lose a company tens of millions, make a divisive Superman film that a few love but most are indifferent to or outright hate, and still get to make more? And where were the script notes from the studio from De Luca? Maybe a “This is our Superman relaunch so don’t do the evil parents, Middle East conflict, and definitely don’t make him a whiny man-child and start the entire film in the second act”.

0bstreperous - 10/14/2025, 12:26 PM

@Bucky74 - Gunn has got nothing on noone or he would have leveraged it when he got fired at least that's what I think

Bucky74 - 10/14/2025, 1:51 PM

@0bstreperous - He strayed the DCU in a divisive fashion for the greatest Superhero in the world and, by many accounts, lost tens of millions on that film. I have some problems with the Snyderverse but that was more financially successful and the killed it.

0bstreperous - 10/14/2025, 1:56 PM

@Bucky74 - not to mention Peacemaker isn't for families and they are trying to make it integral to the next Superman movie they don't even want to acknowledge is a Superman film

Bucky74 - 10/14/2025, 2:01 PM

@0bstreperous - Agreed

vectorsigma - 10/14/2025, 11:49 AM

Let me guess, snyder cultists at it again? 😂😂😂😂

When will these guys go on hiatus? 😭😭😭

WalletsClosed - 10/14/2025, 12:18 PM

@vectorsigma - The "Snyder Cultists" (Doesn't exist) will go on hiatus when Gunn gets fired and never makes a CBM ever again.

Baf - 10/14/2025, 12:48 PM

@WalletsClosed - Wait! You liked the Snyder movies? That makes sense.

soberchimera - 10/14/2025, 12:51 PM

@vectorsigma - It’s amazing how people automatically assume that people who don’t like Gunn, love Snyder. Like they’re the only two people on the planet capable of directing DC movies.

JustAWaffle - 10/14/2025, 12:52 PM

@Baf -

vectorsigma - 10/14/2025, 1:03 PM

@soberchimera - i didnt say that but i understand if it appeared like that.

They are just the noisiest bunch of Gunn haters i guess

Baf - 10/14/2025, 1:08 PM

@JustAWaffle - I liked them too but I can see why many did not.

WalletsClosed - 10/14/2025, 2:09 PM

@Baf - I like good movies, so yes

Wahhvacado - 10/14/2025, 11:54 AM

Answer: Most likely no

TheVisionary25 - 10/14/2025, 11:56 AM

Let’s be serious and logical here for a second…

Regardless of how one feels about Gunn and his style & sensibilities especially for DC , what reason is there so far to oust him & Safran right now?.

All 3 DCU projects so far (Creature Commandos , Superman & Peacemaker S2) have been fairly well received from critics & audiences aswell as successful so I don’t get him being removed when the results for WB state otherwise unless it’s for some sort of personal issue given that Gunn isn’t a fan of Trump and David Ellison is a close friend of the latter.

I will say though that even as someone who likes James as a creative for the most part , I’m glad he will be taking a backseat creatively in 2026 and let others get the chance to shine & put their stamp on DC with the likes of Lanterns , Supergirl & Clayface for now!!.

Overall , I would rather the DCU’s first year as a 3.5 out of 5 which is solid imo!!.

TheJok3r - 10/14/2025, 12:01 PM

It's all about the $$$; as long as Man of Tomorrow makes more than Superman, then Gunn will remain in his position.

JustAWaffle - 10/14/2025, 12:54 PM

@TheJok3r - it’s not often sequels make more than the original, but if they can pull out the big guns (no pun intended) with Brainiac and maybe something more enticing, then I could see that happening.

MisterBones - 10/14/2025, 12:06 PM

He's gonna be around for a while. I think criticisms are valid but we still have yet to see what the DCU looks like when he is NOT the writer and director. That will illustrate a lot.

TheRationalNerd - 10/14/2025, 1:02 PM

@MisterBones - this is true and holds heavy optimism.

kseven - 10/14/2025, 12:09 PM

Keep coping snyderbots

MaxPaint - 10/14/2025, 12:10 PM

This will take a few years to happen, but it's shaping up a lot like how Disney bought 20th Century Fox back in the day.

There's always those who will say it's crazy, or not happening

https://screenrant.com/disney-fox-deal-mcu-x-men-explained/

But where there's smoke, there's fire. And WB is in some deep shit financially.

JackDeth - 10/14/2025, 12:11 PM

"...a report from the notoriously unreliable Cosmic Book News said..."

Slow news day?

theBlackSquare - 10/14/2025, 12:13 PM

Keep the Gunn news coming. It’s really interesting and varied.

WalletsClosed - 10/14/2025, 12:17 PM

They've been numbered since the start. WB and HBO has seen the absolute garbage that Gunn has made and they want nothing to do with him anymore. They want more Penguin, less Orgymaker and Supershit. Gunn has made nothing but flops and made projects for DC. Time for the inevitable reboot.

Reboot the MCU and DCU

GeneralZod - 10/14/2025, 12:21 PM

Kevin Feige's days should be numbered. He built a Ferrari and wrecked it.

SATW42 - 10/14/2025, 12:21 PM

I feel like this article was for one person. lmao

HistoryofMatt - 10/14/2025, 12:25 PM

Paramount purchasing Warner Bros. is not off the table. The first bid was rejected, but it's not like you only get one bid. It's called negotiation.

DarkeyeZ - 10/14/2025, 12:31 PM

If they get rid of James Gunn, they should just give up on having a Cinematic Universe. The Snyder era was a bunch of jumbled trash only enjoyable by men overcompensating for their lack of manliness in real life.
James Gunn has not only made the best Superman movie ever, but he has brought to life the best life action depiction of Superman ever. His Creature Commandos show is amazing on every level. And while Peacemaker is a only a 'Good' show (I always wondered why out of all the DC characters, this dude gets his own show), it serves it's purpose in the overall narrative.
anyways, if James Gunn leaves, then the DCU is dead.

TheJok3r - 10/14/2025, 1:00 PM

@DarkeyeZ - Standalone projects like what Reeves is doing with Batman is what they should be doing with their other characters. This whole shred universe craze ended once Endgame released back in 2019; people have more or less moved on now.

HashTagSwagg - 10/14/2025, 12:39 PM

CristianE - 10/14/2025, 12:47 PM

"Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, is also shaping up to be a hit, especially as all signs point to Supes and Lex Luthor teaming up to battle Brainiac"... Mmmm

I think 90% of people have no clue who Brainiac is, and they are the ones that make a movie successful. It will come to a good story, good vfx, marketing, etc... Brainiac is no guarantee of success at all!

slickrickdesigns - 10/14/2025, 1:04 PM

No, no his days are not numbered (anything for clicks),
at least not yet. I have a feeling Supergirl will do decent numbers. Plus just because there’s a merger doesn’t mean they are just going rip apart DC WB projects already in works. They might make them move slower on producing multiple projects but then again nobody really knows.

RageMonkey - 10/14/2025, 1:10 PM

I think Clayface may end up doing better than Supergirl...

Titan417 - 10/14/2025, 1:15 PM

Hey I like Gunn but when he took over DC there were some people he ousted too. It’s Showbiz, Gunn knows what he’s doing. I personally would like to see where he wants to take the DCU. Superman was a solid movie as well as the Peacemaker show. We shall see.

foreverintheway - 10/14/2025, 1:20 PM

Huge doubts on if this story is legit or not. But if you read this and thought "thank god" then you have no idea who Ellison is. You will get D-tier Prime-quality AKA "War of the Worlds (2025)" quality movies forever. Goodbye to quality, goodbye to story - you'll get movies stuffed with explosions and no substance only catering to horny teens solely focused on profit.

Forthas - 10/14/2025, 1:48 PM

I watched Hot Mic and Schneider is insane. He is claiming that Paramount is making bids for Warner Bros. to prop up THEIR stock price?

WHAT???

First, that does not sound legal. Plus, everything we have seen so far seems to confirm the Cosmic Book news story,

1) Deluca and Abdy were re-upped in their positions as the acquisition was announced.
2) Gunn has moved off of the Gods and Monsters theme
3) Gunn is not sure there will be a Season 3 of Peacemaker

On top of all of that Paramount is making the bid with ANOTHER company...Apollo! So is Apollo trying to prop up the stock price of Warner Bros. too? Based on what I have seen and read I think Cosmic Book News is more likely to be correct than Jeff Sneider's take.

AmazingFILMporg - 10/14/2025, 2:22 PM

I liked superman but it underperformed. Wasn't a fan of peacemaker and that's underperforming as well. If the next project underperforms then his days are numbered.

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Are James Gunn's Days "Numbered" As DC Studios Co-CEO? Here's The Latest On Online Rumors

Over the weekend, a hard-to-believe rumor started doing the rounds online, claiming that James Gunn's days as DC Studios co-CEO are "numbered." A more reliable source, however, has set the record straight.

Paramount And WB Are Reportedly In Serious Merger Discussions As First Offer Gets Rejected

RUMOR: DC Studios Is Developing A PLASTIC MAN Project - Will It Be A Movie Or TV Series?

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.