James Gunn and Peter Safran to remain at DC Studios after merger

James Gunn and Peter Safran are expected to remain at the helm of DC Studios following the upcoming merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. The deal, which is anticipated to close on October 6, will result in a new entertainment conglomerate operating under the name Skydance, led by Chairman and CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz.

Reports indicate that Gunn and Safran recently met with Ellison, and the discussions were positive, with leadership reportedly telling them to “keep doing what you're doing.” While the duo maintains their creative roles, the merger will trigger significant restructuring elsewhere. Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-heads Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy are expected to exit, while Paramount Pictures co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein will oversee all film units in the merged company.

The transition comes as DC Studios manages a diverse slate of upcoming projects, including the horror film “Clayface,” scheduled for release on October 23, and the Superman sequel “Man of Tomorrow,” slated for July 2027. The new Skydance entity will also move its listing from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “SKYD.”