It doesn’t seem like DC and its fans can catch a break. Just as the new course of the film and television universe seemed to have found a clear direction, a new upheaval at the top of DC Studios threatens to throw everything back into question. James Gunn and Peter Safran are about to leave their respective co-CEO roles, opening a transition phase that could also affect already produced TV series and those currently in development. Among these are important titles like Peacemaker and Lanterns, two productions that hold a significant place in the current DC television landscape and which, for the moment, remain in a state of uncertainty as they have not yet been officially renewed. The audience that has followed with interest the construction of the new DC Universe is also worried about the fate of the numerous other projects that have been discussed in recent years, since the plans for the media franchise were unveiled at the beginning of 2023.
DC TV Series: what to expect from the leadership shake-up?
Gunn and Safran will step down from the helm of DC Studios after four years, while the one to inherit their legacy will be Jeremy Latcham, a former Marvel executive, who will assume the role of president and chief creative officer starting December 1. The new head will be tasked with overseeing the brand’s film, television, and animated productions. Gunn and Safran, however, will not disappear completely from the DC world: both will return to focus on their own creative work and will continue to produce some selected projects. The change, therefore, does not necessarily mean an immediate halt to activities, but opens a phase in which the new leadership will decide which creative directions to maintain and which to modify if necessary.
Among the productions most exposed to uncertainty is Lanterns, the HBO series that won over audiences and critics, but which has not yet received official clearance for a second season. The situation was already unclear before the announcement of Gunn and Safran’s departure. Safran had indeed confirmed in October that HBO had not yet approved the renewal. Yet, some signals suggested a possible continuation, including the opening of a writers’ room with Chris Mundy and Christopher Cantwell. Now, however, the show’s future will also depend on Latcham’s assessments, who will have to decide whether to invest again in the story, also in relation to the other DC Universe storylines.
Even more delicate could be the fate of Peacemaker, the series starring John Cena that represents one of Gunn’s creations most closely tied to his personal vision. Unlike Lanterns, which can count on an autonomous creative group, the show was conceived, written, and largely directed by Gunn himself. After the finale of its second season, released in 2025, the director had clarified that there were no immediate plans to make a third installment, though not completely ruling it out. The intention was rather to continue the character’s story through other projects in the franchise. With Gunn stepping away from the studio’s leadership, this prospect could also change, leaving open several questions about Peacemaker’s presence in upcoming narrative developments.
What will happen to the newly announced series and others in development?
The uncertainties are not limited to these two productions. The People v. Gorilla Grodd, with Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, is expected to arrive in 2027 and currently appears less exposed to the consequences of the change, as filming has already wrapped and Gunn and Safran remain credited as executive producers. The situation is different for potential subsequent seasons. Also Creature Commandos, another Gunn creation, could be affected by changes under the new management, while Booster Gold, a project in development for some time, risks never seeing the light, given the already well-known prior difficulties. The development of a TV series about Viola Davis’s Amanda Waller and another, only recently announced, about Poison Ivy with the same team as The Penguin remains in limbo. On the animation front, Bat-Fam and the sixth season of Harley Quinn suddenly find themselves in a state of uncertainty.
For now there are no official cancellations nor major creative changes announced. It would be premature to talk about a true revolution destined to interrupt productions already underway. Yet it is evident that Gunn and Safran’s exit marks an important transition for DC Studios: Latcham will have the opportunity to confirm the direction taken by his predecessors or to imprint a new identity on the DC Universe. We can imagine that a change would not have been necessary if that had not been the intention. For fans, at least until Latcham is firmly established, one inevitable question remains: how much of James Gunn’s vision will survive the leadership change?
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