DC Studios

area served	Worldwide

products	Motion pictures · Television shows

DC Studios is an American film and television production company that is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). It is responsible for the production of live-action and animated films and television series, as well as video games, based on characters from the American comic book publisher DC Comics, primarily as part of its flagship media franchise and shared universe, the DC Universe (DCU). The studio has been led by writer/director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran as its co-chairmen and co-CEOs since its formation in November 2022.

The studio's predecessor, DC Films, was formed in May 2016 as a division of Warner Bros. Pictures to oversee DC-based film productions, primarily those from its shared universe franchise the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). DC comic book and television writer Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. producer Jon Berg served as co-chairmen. After several DCEU films received poor reception and underperformed financially, the duo stepped down by the end of 2017 and the division was reorganized, with Walter Hamada hired as the studio's president. Following the merger of DC and Warner Bros. owner WarnerMedia with Discovery, Inc. in April 2022, WBD overhauled its operations, leading Hamada to step down in October 2022. DC Films was then dissolved in favor of DC Studios, a new division with greater oversight of DC media. Gunn and Safran, who had worked on some DCEU projects, were hired to lead the studio, and the duo began work on the DCU as a new franchise to serve as a soft reboot of the DCEU.

From 2016 to 2023, DC Films produced 13 films within the DCEU, from Suicide Squad (2016) to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), alongside two standalone films, Joker (2019) and The Batman (2022). Joker and the studio's DCEU film Aquaman (2018) are among the 50 highest-grossing films of all time, with Joker becoming the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion. The first DC Studios production is the television series The Penguin (2024), a spin-off from The Batman. DC Studios releases films and television series within the DCU, starting with the animated series Creature Commandos in 2024, and the film Superman in 2025. Productions that are not part of the DCU are set to be part of the "DC Elseworlds" label. The studio's first animated film is set to be Dynamic Duo (2028).

History

Formation of DC Films and initial developments (2016–2022)

After the divisive reception to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Warner Bros. Pictures sought to stabilize the direction of its media franchise and shared universe, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). In May 2016, the studio reorganized to have genre-responsible film executives, thus DC Entertainment films under Warner Bros. Pictures were placed under a new division, DC Films, to be led by Warner Bros. executive vice president, Jon Berg, and the chief creative officer of DC Comics, Geoff Johns. This was done in hopes of competing more directly with Marvel Studios' franchise, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Johns kept his role at DC Comics, and reported to DC Entertainment's president, Diane Nelson, while Berg reported to Warner Bros. Pictures' president, Greg Silverman.

Management

Current

James Gunn – Co-chairman and co-chief executive officer (CEO), DC Studios; Gunn serves in leadership as creative head for the company (November 2022–present)
Peter Safran – Co-chairman and co-chief executive officer (CEO), DC Studios; Safran serves in leadership over the business aspects of the company (November 2022–present)
– Executive Vice President (EVP), Production, DC Studios; Nong oversees the production and creative development of DC-based films, television, and animation (November 2022–present); formerly Senior Vice President, Feature Development and Production of DC Films, overseeing creative development and production management of DC-based films (February 2018 – November 2022)
– Executive Vice President (EVP), Publicity and Communications; McDonough oversees media relations, publicity, and external and employee communications (July 2023–present)
– Vice President (VP), Creative Development; former assistant to Jon Berg

Former

– Executive Vice President (EVP) and co-president of production,

Production library

Films

Each DC Films and DC Studios film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Live-action films

Produced by DC Films

Produced by DC Studios

DC Studios has also reserved a release date for an unspecified film on March 5, 2027.

Produced by DC Films

Produced by DC Studios

DC Studios has also reserved a release date for an unspecified film on March 5, 2027.

Animated film

Documentary film

External links

at DC.com

References

Kofi Outlaw. James Gunn Officially Responds to DCU Rumors: Batman, Wonder Woman Casting, Clayface Trailer & More ComicBook.com, January 19, 2026, retrieved January 21, 2026^
Cheryl Eddy. James Gunn Teases What 'Superman' Follow-Up 'Man of Tomorrow' Will Be About Gizmodo, September 10, 2025, retrieved September 10, 2025^
Zack Sharf.

Formation of DC Studios and new leadership (since 2022)

Less than a week after Hamada's departure, writer/director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran, who had previously worked together on the DCEU film The Suicide Squad (2021) and its spin-off series Peacemaker (2022), were announced as the co-CEOs and co-chairmen of DC Studios, a newly-created production entity under WBD. DC Films was dissolved, and DC Studios oversaw the remaining films from the studio pending release in 2023. The duo was tasked with leading the production of films, television, animation, and video games under the DC label, reporting directly to Zaslav while also working alongside, but independently of, the heads of WBD's other divisions. Gunn oversees the creative development of DC projects, while Safran supervises the production side. Their roles officially began on November 1, 2022, and reportedly lasted for four years.

In November, Gunn said that the studio would focus on multiple DCU live-action and animated projects, but also stated that they would acknowledge fan responses and complaints, and confirmed all subsequent DC projects would be released under the DC Studios banner, including those that were filmed before the formation of the studio. In December, Gunn announced that he was writing a new Superman film that would feature a younger actor in the role. Henry Cavill was not set to return as Superman, while Ben Affleck, who portrayed Bruce Wayne / Batman in the DCEU, was reported to be in talks to direct a new DC Studios project, before Affleck stated that he was not interested in directing a DC film. Gunn later revealed that new DC films would have an equal focus on popular and obscure characters, drawing inspiration from the DC animated series Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) and Young Justice (2010–2022).

On January 31, 2023, Gunn and Safran announced the first slate of DCU content, titled "Chapter One: Gods and Monsters". They also assembled a writers' room that included Drew Goddard, Jeremy Slater, Christina Hodson, Christal Henry, and Tom King. Projects that are not a part of the shared universe are branded as "DC Elseworlds". The following month, Gunn confirmed development for animated films within both the DCU and DC Elseworlds. Gunn said in March that they were working on potentially incorporating characters from DC's Vertigo Comics imprint beyond the Swamp Thing film, and said the following month that there were plans to incorporate characters from Milestone Media publications by DC, such as Static. In September, WBD announced that it would expand its production facility at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, England, which would serve as the primary production hub for DC Studios. Gunn and Safran were consulting on the expansion, with work starting in the second quarter of 2024 and expected to be finished in 2027. DC Studios's television series were initially all intended for the streaming service HBO Max (briefly renamed to simply "Max"), but in June 2024, WBD shifted many of its planned big-budget Max series to be HBO originals beginning in 2025, including upcoming series from DC Studios.

In February 2024, Gunn and Safran worked with WBD corporate siblings to acquire the Christopher Reeve documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024). This is the first film to be released under the DC Studios banner, while The Penguin (2024) is the first DC Studios production and the first series to be released under that banner. In June 2024, DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation were revealed to be developing an animated television series focused on the character Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle for the DCU that would follow after the events of the DCEU film Blue Beetle (2023). At San Diego Comic-Con in July, Gunn unveiled the official logo for DC Studios as an updated version of the 1977 "DC Bullet" logo designed by Milton Glaser, alongside an animated introduction sequence featuring Superman, in a recreation of the back cover of Superman #1 (1939) designed by Warner Bros. Animation. The updated logo was also being used for DC Comics and its affiliated units, but was not used for some earlier projects that DC Studios had inherited, namely The Penguin and the animated series Harley Quinn (2019–present), because they were not as involved in those. A slightly different DC Studios logo animation is used for the end credits on The Penguin, while a separate logo and opening animation are set to be used for future projects released under the "DC Elseworlds" banner.

That October, DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation greenlit the theatrical animated film Dynamic Duo (2028), which is DC Studios's first animated film and the first new project to move forward at the studio following its DCU announcements. The film Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) is part of the "DC Elseworlds" label and was overseen by Warner Bros. Pictures co-chiefs De Luca and Abdy, without the involvement of Gunn, Safran, or DC Studios, although the DC logo used before that studio's formation is included in the credits. At the time of the film's release later that month, Gunn said that "[a]ll future films with DC characters [would] be DC Studios" productions moving forward, and he later clarified that the studio would release every subsequent film and television adaptation from DC.

Ahead of the premiere of the DCU series Creature Commandos in December 2024, DC Studios announced the unscripted biweekly video podcast series DC Studios Showcase: The Official Podcast, produced by OBB Sound for the streaming service Max. Later that month, they also announced the launch of its DC Studios Fan First newsletter via DC's website, to provide updates on the company's projects, with an introduction message written by Gunn. In February 2025, DC Studios announced that it had greenlit three "younger-skewed" animated series—Starfire!, My Adventures with Green Lantern, and DC Super Powers—which were being co-produced with Warner Bros. Animation. The adult animation series Mister Miracle, also co-produced with that studio, was announced in June. In November, DC Studios was revealed to be developing a new television series adaptation of the 1982–1989 Vertigo graphic novel V for Vendetta for HBO, alongside Warner Bros. Television Studios, Ben Stephenson of Poison Pen, and Leanne Klein of Wall to Wall Media. By December, Gunn and Safran's contracts were scheduled to last through early to mid-2027. In April 2026, DC Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences announced Superman Experience: Defenders Unite, an interactive mixed reality walkthrough attraction inspired by Superman that would open as part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood on April 18, "Superman Day".

alt	DC Studios logo modeled after the "DC Bullet" design introduced in 1977
type	Division
industry	Film · Television · Animation · Video games
genre	Superhero fiction
predecessor	DC Films (2016–2022)
hq location	4000 Warner Boulevard
hq location city	Burbank, California
hq location country	United States

History

Formation of DC Films and initial developments (2016–2022)

Management

Current

Former

Production library

Films

Live-action films

Produced by DC Films

Produced by DC Studios

Produced by DC Films

Produced by DC Studios

Animated film

Documentary film

See also

External links

References

Restructuring and immediate changes (2022)

Formation of DC Studios and new leadership (since 2022)

Live-action films

Produced by DC Films

Produced by DC Studios

Produced by DC Films

Produced by DC Studios

Animated film

Documentary film

Television

Live-action series

Animated series

Live-action series

Animated series

Podcast