What Happens to James Gunn Peter Safran’s DCU After the Paramount Merger?

Cover photo from Screen Crush X account.

While the merger remained in limbo under Attorney General Rob Bonta’s temporary restraining order, entertainment insiders began speculating about what would happen to James Gunn and Peter Safran once Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery was completed.

Would Gunn and Safran be out? Would they remain through the end of their respective contracts? Or could they receive new multi-year deals under the new Paramount regime?

After the merger was approved on September 30, speculation continued to circulate across the internet and social media about what would happen to Gunn and Safran’s DC Universe. Over the past week, however, that picture has begun to become clearer.

Gunn and Safran are expected to remain in charge of DC Studios following the merger, giving the new DCU a degree of continuity as Warner Bros. transitions into the newly combined Skydance company. Gunn is also already working on his next film while Superman: Man of Tomorrow moves through post-production. 

After months of uncertainty, the future of Gunn and Safran’s DC Universe is finally beginning to take shape.

Here’s what we know about their future under Paramount and what it could mean for the next chapter of the DC Universe.

What We Need to Know

• James Gunn and Peter Safran are expected to remain in charge of DC Studios following the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. 
• The two will continue overseeing DC Studios rather than being replaced as part of the broader Warner Bros. leadership transition.
• Gunn is continuing work on Superman: Man of Tomorrow.
• Gunn confirmed on October 4 that he is already writing his next film while Man of Tomorrow moves through the editing process. 
• The assembly cut of Man of Tomorrow has been completed.
• Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for theatrical release on July 9, 2027. 
• Gunn and Safran’s continued leadership means the DCU’s existing creative direction remains in place following the corporate merger.
• The merger does not currently signal a restart of Gunn and Safran’s DCU plans.

The Details

The Future of the DCU

The biggest question surrounding DC Studios following the Paramount acquisition was whether the new ownership would attempt to restructure Gunn and Safran’s plans for the DCU.

For now, the answer appears to be no.

Gunn and Safran are expected to remain at the helm of DC Studios, providing continuity while the broader Warner Bros. organization undergoes significant changes. The pair have also met with Paramount/Skydance CEO David Ellison as the new company prepares to take control of Warner Bros. Discovery. 

Meanwhile, Gunn is already moving forward with the next chapter of the DCU.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow

Superman: Man of Tomorrow remains in post-production and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.

David Corenswet returns as Superman, while Nicholas Hoult returns as Lex Luthor. The film will also introduce Brainiac as a major antagonist, with Lars Eidinger portraying the character.

Milly Alcock returns as Supergirl, while Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart will also appear following his introduction in Lanterns. 

Gunn has also confirmed that he is already writing his next film. He has not publicly identified the project, leaving the next major DCU film beyond Man of Tomorrow unknown for now. 

Gunn and Safran Are Staying

The continued presence of Gunn and Safran is perhaps the most significant development for the DCU following the merger.

The two were brought in to establish a unified direction for DC’s film and television properties, and their continued leadership means Paramount is currently allowing that vision to continue rather than immediately replacing the studio’s creative leadership. 

That doesn’t mean the new ownership won’t eventually make changes. But for now, there is no indication that the merger will result in the DCU being restarted or substantially restructured.

Upcoming and Future DC Projects

Superman: Man of Tomorrow

• The next major DCU theatrical film.
• Release date: July 9, 2027.
• Currently in post-production.
• James Gunn returns as writer and director.

Clayface

• DCU theatrical film.
• Written by Mike Flanagan.
• Directed by James Watkins.
• Remains part of the DC Studios slate.

Lanterns

• DCU television series.
• Stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart.
• Pierre’s John Stewart will subsequently appear in Man of Tomorrow.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold

• Remains the planned DCU Batman feature.
• Andy Muschietti remains attached as director.
• The project is separate from Matt Reeves’ The Batman continuity.

The Batman Part II

• Remains outside the main DCU continuity.
• Matt Reeves remains attached to the project.
• Robert Pattinson remains Batman in Reeves’ continuity.
• Production was temporarily paused while Reeves stepped away to address a personal family matter. The film remains scheduled for February 18, 2028. 

Creature Commandos

• Established the DCU’s television and animation continuity.
• Remains part of the broader DCU framework.

Peacemaker

• Remains connected to Gunn’s DCU continuity.
• Continues the television side of the universe.

Waller

• Remains one of the previously announced DCU television projects.
• Its current production status is less clearly defined than projects such as Lanterns.

The Bottom Line

Over the past week, we’ve received more indications that the next phase of the DC Universe is moving forward.

There have been announcements and reports surrounding upcoming projects, potential casting, Gunn’s next film, and the future of DC Studios under the new Skydance leadership. Most importantly, Gunn and Safran appear to have survived the corporate transition and will continue overseeing DC Studios. 

But that doesn’t tell us how the DCU will fare in the long term.

The franchise still has plenty to prove.

The Batman Part II has encountered another production setback after Reeves temporarily stepped away for a family matter, while rumors surrounding potential DC projects and casting continue to circulate. At the same time, Gunn is coming off a mixed period for the franchise. Superman performed strongly enough to establish the new DCU, while Supergirl struggled at the box office. Lanterns has also generated a mixed response from audiences, with some viewers embracing the series while others remain less enthusiastic.

Gunn still needs a major win.

The Paramount merger gives him something arguably just as important: time and stability.

The new ownership has chosen to keep Gunn and Safran in place rather than immediately dismantle the direction they established. That gives the DCU an opportunity to continue building toward the larger vision Gunn and Safran have been developing.

But eventually, Paramount will have to decide whether it believes that vision is working.

A major indication of the studio’s confidence will be what happens when Gunn’s current contract comes up for renewal. If Paramount chooses to extend Gunn and Safran and gives them another multi-year commitment, it would be a strong signal that the new company believes in their long-term plan for DC.

For now, however, the message from the new regime appears relatively straightforward:

The DCU isn’t being rebooted again. James Gunn and Peter Safran are staying, and the plan is moving forward.

Whether that plan ultimately delivers the DC Universe fans have been waiting for is another question entirely.