As Black Adam star Dwayne Johnson is so fond of saying, the hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is about to change!
We've been hearing about recently appointed Warner Bros. Discovery Boss David Zaslav's search for a "Kevin Feige-type" to take charge of the DCEU for quite a while, and reports are coming in that he's finally found two experienced individuals to run the DC Film, TV and Animations divisions.
The Suicide Squad director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran have been assigned to the new roles of Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of DC Studios, overseeing the overall creative direction of the DC Universe across film, TV, and animation under a single banner.
“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," said Zaslav 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 added: “We’re honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we’ve loved since we were children. 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. We’re especially enthusiastic about doing all of this with Mike, Pam, Casey, Channing, and the whole Warner Bros. Discovery team, and are grateful to David Zaslav, whose bold vision for the future of the franchise we share and allows for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Most of all, we can’t wait to bring you all into the story of the DCU.”
Gunn and Safran will report directly to Zaslav, while Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy will continue to oversee the rest of the studio's feature slate. Apparently, it was De Luca’s idea for Safran and Gunn to take the gig, with the latter focusing on the creative side and Safran taking charge of the business and production end of things.
This is obviously a major deal for DC Studios (yes, that's what we'll be calling it from now on), and it's going to be very interesting to see what Gunn and Safran bring to the table.
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