Hollywood
James Gunn & Peter Safran to run DC Studios for Warner Bros. Discovery as co-heads
Mumbai: Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that Hollywood industry veterans James Gunn and Peter Safran have been appointed to the new roles of DC Studios co-chairmen and CEOs, overseeing the overall creative direction of the DC Universe across film, TV, and animation under a single banner. Gunn and Safran will report to Warner Bros. Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav. They will work closely with Warner Bros. Film Group co-chairpersons and CEOs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy. The appointments will be effective on 1 November 2022.
In their new roles, Gunn and Safran will spearhead the development and execution of a long-term plan for the many properties licenced from DC Comics, focused on continuing the tradition of high-quality storytelling for the DC Universe across audio-visual media, while building a sustainable growth business out of the iconic franchise. In addition to their executive responsibilities, Gunn and Safran will develop, direct, and produce projects. In their new roles, they will also work collaboratively with Warner Bros. Television Group chairman Channing Dungey; HBO and HBO Max Content chairman & CEO Casey Bloys; US Networks Group chairman & chief content officer Kathleen Finch; Warner Bros. Discovery Consumer Products president Pam Lifford and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment president David Haddad.
Both Gunn and Safran have extensive experience with the superhero genre, having brought some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Universe’s most popular characters to life in hit films and series that include: Marvel’s blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, and DC’s highest grossing movie, Aquaman; Shazam!; The Suicide Squad; and the HBO Max original, live-action series Peacemaker.
Zaslav commented, “DC has among the most entertaining, powerful, and iconic characters in the world, and I am thrilled to have the singular and complementary talents of James and Peter joining our world-class team and overseeing the creative direction of the storied DC Universe. Their decades of experience in filmmaking, close ties to the creative community, and proven track record of thrilling superhero fans around the globe make them uniquely qualified to develop a long-term strategy across film, TV, and animation, and take this iconic franchise to the next level of creative storytelling.”
Gunn and Safran commented, “We’re honoured to be the stewards of these DC characters we’ve loved since we were children. 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. We’re especially enthusiastic about doing all of this with Mike, Pam, Casey, Channing, and the whole Warner Bros. Discovery team, and are grateful to David Zaslav, whose bold vision for the future of the franchise we share and which allows for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Most of all, we can’t wait to bring you all into the story of the DCU.”
De Luca and Abdy said, “We could not be more excited to have James Gunn and Peter Safran join the team and assume the leadership of the DC Universe. James is a brilliant filmmaker and storyteller and Peter is a tremendously successful and prolific producer and to have them both committing to work together to forge this new era for DC is a literal dream come true. We all share a very similar sensibility and passion for this universe, and the stars couldn’t have aligned any better. We can’t wait to get started, dig in, and collaborate with these unmatched creative minds.”
Throughout his decades-long career, writer/director/producer James Gunn has been responsible for films and series, including: Warner Bros. live-action movies, Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2; a remake of George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead; the horror comedy Slither; the dark superhero comedy Super; the hugely successful Marvel films Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2; DC’s The Suicide Squad; and the spin-off series for HBO Max, Peacemaker. With the release of The Suicide Squad in 2021, Gunn became the first filmmaker to direct a movie for both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe.
Peter Safran has produced films for Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, and other film studios, including: DC’s highest grossing movie, Aquaman and its upcoming sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom; Shazam and its upcoming sequel, Shazam: Fury of the Gods; The Suicide Squad; Annabelle; and the entire Conjuring universe, the most successful horror franchise of all time at $2B+ in worldwide box office and counting. Safran’s production company, The Safran Company, recently re-upped its long-term production deal with Warner Bros. Discovery and has four theatrical releases scheduled for 2023, including The Nun 2, which is the sequel to the highest grossing title in the Conjuring universe, The Nun. Prior to forming his own company, Safran was Brillstein-Grey Management’s president, which represented some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
