Jeremy Latcham, the incoming head of DC Studios, plans to center the company’s film slate on its best-known heroes, including Batman and Wonder Woman, according to a report from TheWrap. Latcham, a Marvel Studios veteran, takes over as president and chief creative officer after James Gunn and Peter Safran left their posts as co-chiefs this week. Variety and other outlets reported that the pair were dismissed. Skydance leaders David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz thanked them publicly for launching “a new era” at DC.
TheWrap reports that Ellison wants Latcham to get a “Justice League” film into theaters quickly. That aim points toward Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and The Flash. The same report says smaller bets such as Clayface, Booster Gold and Peacemaker will matter less, and it lists Supergirl among the “modest” properties. Latcham has said he wants to build on DC’s established characters while bringing them to new audiences.
The pivot answers a mixed box-office record. Gunn’s “Superman” earned $618 million worldwide last summer. This year’s “Supergirl” brought in only $126 million against a reported $170 million budget. Industry insiders told Variety they questioned the decision to build around lesser-known figures instead of marquee names. An HBO Max series called “Paradise Lost,” set on Wonder Woman’s home island of Themyscira, was scrapped this summer, and the long-teased Wonder Woman film has no confirmed cast or release date.
Gunn did not ignore the top tier. He recently called Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman the DCU’s “diamond characters,” and a Wonder Woman project had been in development with screenwriter Ana Nogueira. Critics of the switch could argue that his slate was building toward those heroes and needed more time.
Several questions remain open. DC has not decided whether to reset the universe with new actors and storylines. Batman’s status is murky because Matt Reeves’ separate “The Batman Part II” is set for 2028, and it is unclear whether his planned trilogy will continue. Variety called it likely that David Corenswet stays on as Superman. TheWrap also reports that Latcham will keep a much lower social media profile than Gunn, who was known for engaging with fans directly.
