James Gunn and Peter Safran will retain control of DC Studios following the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Skydance, which is scheduled to close on October 6, according to Deadline.
While Gunn has not issued a direct statement regarding the deal, he reposted a video shared by Skydance owner David Ellison on Friday morning. The merger agreement, which combines Paramount and Warner Bros. libraries including franchises like Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, brings together historic studio assets under Ellison’s leadership structure.
Executive Shifts at Warner Bros. Film and Streaming Divisions
The transition brings significant leadership changes across the parent studio. David Zaslav hosted a muted farewell gathering for executives at a Beverly Hills mansion, bringing together figures including Casey Bloys, JB Perrette, and De Luca alongside Safran and Gunn. The guest list included Shauna Spenley, Amy Girdwood, Robert Gibbs, Bill Damaschke, Richard Brener, and producers Greg Berlanti, John Wells, and Chuck Lorre, though Margot Robbie, Timothée Chalamet and Michael B. Jordan were not present.
De Luca and Abdy’s departure follows a volatile box office run that featured successes like Ryan Coogler’s Sinners alongside 2026 theatrical misfires. After a weak 2024 featuring Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Joker: Folie à Deux, 2025 saw a $4-billion global year with Sinners and Weapons, but 2026 saw no pictures gross over $100 million domestically. Variety confirmed that the combined entity will release roughly 30 movies annually under Goldberg and Greenstein, while former Mattel CEO Ynon Kriez has been tapped by Ellison to serve as co-CEO overseeing daily operations and integration.
Pamela Abdy Faces Studio Struggles over Box Office Duds
However, that film ultimately lost money for the studio. Pamela Abdy, a former MGM co-chief with credits including Queen & Slim, Garden State and 47 Ronin, is regarded as a shrewd studio player. The studio has struggled in 2026 with duds like The Bride! and Supergirl, while Digger is expected to be one of the year’s biggest misfires.
Upcoming Slate and Production Continuity at DC Studios
Despite recent box office hurdles for titles like Supergirl, which grossed $126.4M, Gunn and Safran maintain backing due to current project performances and upcoming releases. Deadline reported that Gunn is directing the upcoming sequel Man of Tomorrow, set for release on July 9, 2027, which brings back stars from the 2025 film Superman. Additionally, the moderately budgeted genre film Clayface is scheduled for release on October 23, following the box office performance of Superman, which grossed more than $618 million globally.
Television and streaming output also anchors the studio’s current slate. The HBO and HBO Max series Lanterns drew strong viewership figures, with its third episode reaching 10M global viewers in its first three days. The series, co-created by Tom King, Damon Lindelof and Chris Mundy, has seen its pilot viewed by over 20 million people worldwide since launching August 16. Other active productions include Matt Reeves’ sequel The Batman Part II, scheduled for February 18, 2028, the hybrid animation project Dynamic Duo, and the Superman spinoff series The People v. Gorilla Grodd.
DC Studios Organizational Background
Safran previously produced the The Conjuring franchise, Shazam, and Aquaman, as well as Gunn’s 2021 The Suicide Squad and the two-season Peacemaker series starring John Cena.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Skydance and Warner Bros. Merger
When does the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger close?
The $110 billion transaction combining Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery into Skydance is expected to be finalized on October 6.
Who will oversee the film operations for the combined studio?
Paramount film division heads Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg are slated to run the movie output for both studios, replacing outgoing Warner Bros. motion picture chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy.
What DC projects are currently in production under James Gunn and Peter Safran?
Active projects include the feature film Man of Tomorrow, the genre film Clayface, Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II, the animated project Dynamic Duo, and the series The People v. Gorilla Grodd.
Unresolved Questions Surrounding Streaming Leadership
While film and DC Studios leadership structures are taking shape under incoming management, the official status of several key executive positions remains unconfirmed. Paramount and Warner Bros. representatives did not respond to requests for comment regarding whether HBO Max chief Casey Bloys will officially assume top streaming duties in the combined corporate structure following the exit of Paramount+ streaming head Cindy Holland.
More on James Gunn
Keep reading