On Monday, we reported about James Gunn quitting his position as the chief of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran. DC Studios has appointed Jeremy Latcham as its new Chief Creative Officer and President. Hours after the news broke, Gunn took to social media and explained his decision.
In his note, James Gunn reflected on his upbringing in Manchester, Missouri, in which he would draw comics of his own, combining DC characters with his creations. He found it "a dream come true" to be able to access and mould these characters according to his desire at DC Studios. Gunn also admitted hesitation when the job came his way four years ago, but he expressed his eventual happiness about taking it.
The filmmaker also shared his challenges with heading a major studio, something which he described as a 'trying' experience. "I dislike the at-times corporate nature of the job (thanks to Peter for taking the brunt of that," Gunn shared before noting that the job affected his family life. The filmmaker also had his troubles with dedicating time to his passion projects and the ones he did not feel as passionate about, all while heading a big studio.
James Gunn also noted the several "highs" he had during his time at DC Studios, including his experiences working on Superman, Clayface, and Peacemaker. The filmmaker also expressed his gratitude to his crew, casts, and other collaborators at DC Studios, as well as the fans. He made special mention of Safran, describing him as "the smartest and most competent person" he knows, "a truly good friend" and "the best partner" imaginable.
James Gunn also reassured fans that he and Safran are not completely ending ties with DC and superheroes. Gunn noted that Man of Tomorrow is slated for a summer release, and revealed that he has already been associated with another DC project as a writer. The filmmaker described the whole process of developing Man of Tomorrow as "the best filmmaking experience" of his life thus far. Ultimately, he expressed a sense of relief and excitement to return to pure, hands-on filmmaking.
