Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has been describing how James Gunn and Peter Safran’s appointment as joint CEOs of DC Studios is more than just a job for the pair. Having between them worked on several DC projects, including The Suicide Squad and Shazam!, Gunn and Safran are overseeing the DCU going forward as, in Zaslav’s words, a “passion project.” As reported by THR, while speaking at the WBD Q3 earnings call on Thursday, Zaslav said:
"[For them], running DC Studios is a passion project, not just a job," Zaslav explained. "James is a brilliant storyteller who has the distinction of being the first and only filmmaker to direct the movie for both Marvel and DC. Peter's a prolific producer whose credits include DC's highest grossing movie, Aquaman, as well as the entire Conjuring universe, the most successful horror franchise of all time. I could not be more thrilled to have them join our ranks. And I'm excited for what is to come. I spent a lot of time over the last few months with James and Peter, talking about our strategy and long-term plans for the future of DC across TV, animation, and film. They have a powerful vision and blueprint that will drive a more unified creative approach. [It] will enable us to realize the full value of one of the world's most iconic franchises. They're hard at work right now."
Will James Gunn and Peter Zaslav Be Good For The DCU?
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After many years of chasing its tail, the DCEU is now all but dead. From the ashes will rise the DCU, with some of the same characters but a whole new direction. It is hard to deny that so far that Gunn and Safran have been anything but good news for the world of DC, having been involved in most of the franchise’s popular offerings of the last few years. On taking over the role, Gunn and Safran said in a joint statement:
"We're honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we've loved since we were children," Gunn and Safran said in a statement. "We look forward to collaborating with the most talented writers, directors, and actors in the world to create an integrated, multilayered universe that still allows for the individual expression of the artists involved. Our commitment to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Harley Quinn, and the rest of the DC stable of characters is only equaled by our commitment to the wonder of human possibility these characters represent. We're excited to invigorate the theatrical experience around the world as we tell some of the biggest, most beautiful, and grandest stories ever told."
Currently, the final movies of the previous DC regime are starting to play out, with Black Adam seemingly being the first in a new “Phase One” of the DCU, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Shazam: Fury of the Gods and The Flash all set to arrive in 2023. Henry Cavill has already returned as Superman, and rumors have suggested that he and Ben Affleck will both be turning up in some of these movies. By the time The Flash is released, we could know a little more about where the DCU will be headed in the coming years.