James Gunn what's his fate?

According to a new report, James Gunn and Peter Safran are expected to remain in charge of DC Studios if Paramount Skydance ultimately takes control of Warner Bros.

An insider speaking with TheWrap claims there are currently no plans to replace Gunn or Safran or dramatically restructure DC Studios. That lines up with previous reports suggesting Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has been supportive of the direction Gunn and Safran have taken with the DC Universe.

Ellison has reportedly been described as “pretty open to what we’re doing” at DC Studios, an encouraging sign for fans wondering whether a potential ownership change could result in another major creative shakeup for DC.

The report also suggests Ellison is not looking to immediately overhaul Warner Bros.’ other major film divisions. Warner Bros. Pictures co-heads Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca are reportedly expected to remain in their positions, while New Line Cinema president Richard Brener would also stay in place.

For now, it appears Ellison would rather evaluate Warner Bros.’ existing leadership before making sweeping changes. Of course, that could eventually change depending on the performance of future films and television projects.

What Does This Mean for the Future of DC Studios?

The current DC Universe officially began with the animated series Creature Commandos, which served as a lead-in to the larger franchise before James Gunn’s Superman arrived in theaters in 2025.

Superman proved to be an important success for the new DC era, while the second season of Peacemaker also received a positive response.

Since then, however, DC Studios has faced more scrutiny.

Supergirl, one of the first major DCU films not directed by Gunn himself, struggled at the box office and received a more divided critical response. That performance raised questions about whether the franchise can maintain the same level of momentum when Gunn is overseeing projects rather than personally directing them.

There have also been reports that several long-developed DC television projects are being reconsidered or abandoned, adding more uncertainty about which projects will actually move forward.

Meanwhile, Clayface represents another major test for the studio as DC attempts to build a connected universe around characters beyond Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.

Still, there are reasons for optimism.

HBO’s Lanterns has reportedly earned strong reactions from viewers and critics, helping expand the DC Universe beyond its theatrical releases.

Attention is also turning toward the next Superman film, Man of Tomorrow, which will once again have James Gunn behind the camera. The sequel could become another major opportunity for DC Studios to strengthen the direction of its still-young cinematic universe.

Most importantly, the latest reporting suggests Gunn and Safran will have the opportunity to continue executing that plan.

If the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal moves forward, DC Studios may experience a change in ownership without immediately experiencing another change in leadership — something the DC brand has endured several times over the past decade.

For fans, that could mean something DC has rarely had in recent years: continuity.