by Ray Keating
News/Commentary
DisneyBizJournal.com
October 25, 2022
News broke tonight that director James Gunn will be the co-CEO of DC Studios, along with producer Peter Safran. The duo will lead the film, television and animation division, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
DC Studios will replace DC Films at Warner Bros.
While the proof will be in the pudding, for now, this rates as a homerun hire for Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
According to the report, “Gunn will focus on the creative side of things, while Safran will focus on the business and production side.”
The deal starts on November 1, runs for four years, at least to start, and Gunn will be exclusive to DC Studios.
That puts an end to Gunn’s relationship with Marvel-Disney, with The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special arriving on Disney+ on November 25 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 coming to theaters on May 5, 2023.
Gunn winding up at DC isn’t a surprise, given that Marvel had fired him as director of Guardians 3, with DC then hiring him for The Suicide Squad and subsequently the HBO Max spinoff Peacemaker. Of course, Marvel hired him back for Guardians 3, eventually. But it’s understandable not only where Gunn’s loyalties might lie, but also that Warner Bros. views Gunn as one of the premiere creators when it comes to superhero cinema.
Anyone who appreciates superheroes on the big screen should be pleased with this new DC Studios team, as it points to a potential step up in the quality and coherence of the DCU. Perhaps it might serve as something of a competitive jolt to the MCU, which has had more misses than hits in recent years.
__________
Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.
The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?
Ray Keating is the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. Pre-Order Persecution: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Keating says, “I think Persecution might be the most action-packed of any of the Pastor Stephen Grant books so far.”
Signed books at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/persecution
Kindle edition at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHHJNNB4
Two great ways to order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks here and the Kindle edition here.
Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks here, and paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions here.
Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.
