‘Peacemaker,’ ‘Lanterns’ & More DC Shows That Could Be Affected by James Gunn’s Exit

It’s the end of an era for DC Studios. After four years behind the wheel, James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-CEOs, leaving the future of several DC film and television projects in the hands of a new boss.

According to Deadline, former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham will take over as president and chief creative officer on December 1, overseeing DC’s film, television, and animation slate. Gunn and Safran, meanwhile, will return to their creative work and continue producing select DC projects.

The shakeup raises some big questions about the future of the DC Universe, particularly the television shows Gunn and Safran helped bring to life and several others in development.

HBO’s Lanterns was a hit with critics and fans, but its long-term future will now be in the hands of incoming DC Studios president Jeremy Latcham, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already questionable second season. Season 2 was on shaky ground even before the shakeup, as the series has yet to receive an official renewal. In October, Safran confirmed that HBO had not greenlit another season, although a writers’ room had reportedly opened with Chris Mundy and Christopher Cantwell.

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HBO’s Peacemaker could face a more uncertain future following Gunn’s departure, given his close creative involvement with the series. Unlike Lanterns, which has its own creative team, the John Cena-led series was created, written, and largely helmed by Gunn.

Following the Season 2 finale in 2025, Gunn confirmed there were no immediate plans for Season 3, although he didn’t rule it out entirely (as per Deadline). Instead, the story was expected to continue through other DC Universe projects.

With Gunn no longer overseeing the larger DC Universe, the future of Pacemaker remains unclear.

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HBO’s The People v. Gorilla Grodd, starring Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, has already completed filming and is expected to premiere in 2027. Gunn and Safran remain executive producers, so the leadership shakeup is unlikely to affect its debut. However, any future seasons will fall under Latcham’s leadership.

Another Gunn creation, the animated Creature Commandos, could face changes under Latcham’s leadership, while the long-in-development Booster Gold may never see the light of day. Also in the balance is HBO’s The Penguin, which was originally conceived as a limited series, but has sparked hopes for a second season following its critical acclaim and awards success, though no renewal has been announced. DC’s animated shows, such as Season 2 of Bat-Fam and Harley Quinn Season 6, also remain in limbo, despite interest from their respective casts and creative teams in continuing.

For now, no cancellations or major creative changes have been announced as of the writing of this article. However, with Latcham preparing to take the reins, it remains to be seen how much of Gunn and Safran’s original vision for the DC Universe will survive.

The final day for Gunn and Safran is reportedly set for December 1, 2026.