DC Studios
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film, television, video games |
| Founded | November 2022 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | James Gunn (co-chairman and co-CEO), Peter Safran (co-chairman and co-CEO) |
| Products | Live-action and animated movies, TV shows, video games based on DC Comics characters |
| Parent | Warner Bros. Discovery |
DC Studios is a United States-based film and television production entity operating as a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The company specializes in creating live-action and animated movies, TV shows, and video games inspired by characters from DC Comics, predominantly through its central shared universe known as the DC Universe (DCU). Since its inception in November 2022, the studio has been co-led by writer/director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran, who serve as co-chairmen and co-CEOs.
The studio’s forerunner, DC Films, was launched in May 2016 under the umbrella of Warner Bros. Pictures to manage film projects based on DC properties, primarily within the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). This division was initially overseen by comic book writer Geoff Johns and producer Jon Berg as co-chairs. However, after several DCEU films did not meet financial or critical expectations, both Johns and Berg resigned by late 2017, with Walter Hamada stepping in as president. Following the 2022 merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc., WBD restructured its operations, resulting in Hamada’s exit in October 2022. Consequently, DC Films was disbanded and replaced by DC Studios, which was granted expanded authority over all DC-related media. Gunn and Safran, both experienced with DCEU projects, were appointed to lead the new studio and guide the DCU through a soft reboot.
From 2016 to 2023, DC Films released thirteen DCEU movies—ranging from Suicide Squad (2016) to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)—alongside two successful standalone films: Joker (2019) and The Batman (2022). Among these, Joker and Aquaman are ranked within the top 50 highest-grossing films worldwide, with Joker notably being the first R-rated movie to generate over $1 billion at the box office. The inaugural project under DC Studios is the 2024 television series The Penguin, a spin-off from The Batman. Looking ahead, DC Studios plans to launch films and series within the DCU beginning with the animated show Creature Commandos (2024) and the feature film Superman (2025). Productions outside this shared universe will be categorized under the "DC Elseworlds" label. The company’s first animated movie is slated for release in 2028 with Dynamic Duo.
Establishment of DC Films and early progress (2016–2022)
In response to the mixed feedback received by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Warner Bros. Pictures undertook a reorganization aimed at stabilizing the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). This led to the creation of DC Films in May 2016 under Warner Bros., headed by executive vice president Jon Berg alongside Geoff Johns, who served as chief creative officer of DC Comics. Their objective was to position DC properties competitively against Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Johns maintained his creative role at DC Comics reporting to DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson, Berg reported directly to Warner Bros. Pictures president Greg Silverman. The division emphasized a "director-driven" development philosophy.
The 2017 release of Justice League, produced with an estimated budget near $300 million, opened domestically to roughly $96 million. Industry analysts anticipated leadership restructuring and potential strategic realignments; some speculated that Warner Bros. might abandon the shared universe framework in favor of standalone successes such as Wonder Woman. Nonetheless, Warner Bros. reaffirmed its commitment to the DCEU slate toward the end of 2017.
By December 2017, Warner Bros. announced a restructuring plan: Jon Berg stepped down from his co-president position to form a new production company within Warner Bros. alongside Roy Lee. Geoff Johns shifted into an advisory capacity for DC films while continuing as president and chief creative officer of DC Entertainment. In January 2018, Walter Hamada was appointed president of DC Films with oversight of the DCEU; he brought experience from successfully developing horror franchises like It and The Conjuring. In June 2018, Johns departed from DC Entertainment entirely, concluding his involvement with DCEU projects.
Organizational overhaul and swift adjustments (2022)
Following the April 2022 merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. into Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), CEO David Zaslav launched a reorganization of DC Entertainment, seeking leadership akin to Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige for overseeing film and television projects. By July, Toby Emmerich stepped down as head of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, prompting a restructuring that established separate leadership roles for DC Films, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Warner Animation Group. Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, formerly of MGM, were appointed co-executives in charge of Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, temporarily managing the remaining divisions.
In August, WBD canceled Batgirl without notifying Hamada, who discovered the decision during a screening for Black Adam. Distressed by this, Hamada contemplated resignation but remained until the release of Black Adam. Later that month, discussions began with Dan Lin to assume leadership over DC’s film and television departments, reporting directly to Zaslav as Hamada prepared to leave. However, Lin ended negotiations in September partly due to concerns surrounding the Batgirl cancellation. At the October premiere of Black Adam, star and producer Dwayne Johnson offered his assistance in identifying a new creative head for DC Films. By this time, De Luca was reportedly managing DC Films’ operations. Hamada officially departed on October 19, two days before Black Adam premiered.
Establishment of DC Studios and new executive leadership (since 2022)
Within a week following Hamada’s departure, James Gunn and Peter Safran—who had previously collaborated on The Suicide Squad (2021) and its spin-off series Peacemaker (2022)—were appointed as co-CEOs and co-chairmen of DC Studios. This newly formed WBD production division replaced DC Films and oversees all film, television, animation, and video game projects bearing the DC brand. Reporting directly to Zaslav yet operating autonomously from other WBD units, Gunn is responsible for creative direction while Safran handles production management. Their tenure commenced on November 1, 2022.
In November, Gunn confirmed plans to advance multiple live-action and animated projects within the DC Universe (DCU), integrating fan input into development decisions. All forthcoming DC content would be released under the DC Studios banner, including projects already underway prior to its formation. By December, Gunn announced a fresh Superman film featuring a younger lead actor; Henry Cavill would not reprise his role as Superman. Ben Affleck was reportedly approached to direct a DC Studios project but ultimately declined. Gunn emphasized an equal emphasis on both well-known and lesser-known characters inspired by animated series such as Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice.
On January 31, 2023, Gunn and Safran revealed their initial slate titled "Chapter One: Gods and Monsters," assembling a writers' room comprising Drew Goddard, Jeremy Slater, Christina Hodson, Christal Henry, and Tom King. Projects outside this shared universe would be categorized under "DC Elseworlds." In February, it was confirmed that animated films would be developed within both the DCU and Elseworlds frameworks.
Gunn expressed intentions to incorporate characters from Vertigo Comics beyond just Swamp Thing, later announcing inclusion of Milestone Media properties such as Static. In September 2023, WBD declared plans to expand Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in England as the primary production facility for DC Studios; Gunn and Safran are advising on this project slated for completion in 2027.
Originally planned for HBO Max (later rebranded Max), DC Studios’ television series shifted focus in June 2024 toward premiering as HBO originals beginning in 2025.
In February 2024, Gunn and Safran partnered with WBD affiliates to acquire the Christopher Reeve documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, marking the first film released under the DC Studios label—while The Penguin (2024) became the inaugural series under this brand.
By June 2024, DC Studios alongside Warner Bros. Animation announced an animated series centered on Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle following the DCEU film Blue Beetle (2023). At San Diego Comic-Con in July, Gunn unveiled an updated version of the iconic "DC Bullet" logo accompanied by an animated intro featuring Superman recreating the back cover art of Superman #1 (1939). This refreshed logo is now used across all DC Comics divisions but is not retroactively applied to inherited projects such as The Penguin or the animated series Harley Quinn. Separate logos are planned for upcoming "DC Elseworlds" productions.
In October 2024, DC Studios approved its first theatrical animated feature titled Dynamic Duo (set for release in 2028), developed in collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation—marking the first new initiative following the DCU announcement. The film Joker: Folie à Deux (2024), classified under "DC Elseworlds," was managed by Warner Bros. Pictures co-leads De Luca and Abdy without involvement from Gunn or Safran; however, it features the pre-DC Studios logo during credits. Upon its release, Gunn confirmed that all future films featuring DC characters would be produced exclusively by DC Studios.
Ahead of December 2024’s premiere of the DCU series Creature Commandos, DC Studios launched an unscripted biweekly podcast titled DC Studios Showcase: The Official Podcast, produced specifically for Max streaming service. That same month also saw introduction of the "DC Studios Fan First" newsletter delivering project updates with an opening message from Gunn.
Early in 2025, three animated series targeting younger audiences—Starfire!, My Adventures with Green Lantern, and DC Super Powers—were greenlit as co-productions with Warner Bros. Animation; later that year an adult-oriented animation series titled Mister Miracle was announced.
In November 2025, development commenced on a television adaptation of Vertigo’s graphic novel V for Vendetta for HBO in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television Studios alongside external producers Ben Stephenson and Leanne Klein.
Current Leadership
- James Gunn – Serving as Co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, he is responsible for guiding the creative vision (since November 2022)
- Peter Safran – Co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, overseeing business affairs (since November 2022)
- – Executive Vice President (EVP) of Production at DC Studios; accountable for the production and creative development across DC's film, television, and animation projects (appointed November 2022); previously held the role of Senior Vice President for Feature Development and Production (February 2018 to November 2022)
- – Executive Vice President (EVP) of Publicity and Communications; leads media relations, publicity strategies, and communication efforts (appointed July 2023)
- – Vice President (VP) of Creative Development; previously served as an assistant to Jon Berg
Previous Executives
- – Former Executive Vice President and co-president of production at Warner Bros. Pictures; co-chairman of DC Films; co-managed the DCEU from May 2016 until December 2017
- Geoff Johns – Held the position of co-chairman at DC Films between May 2016 and December 2017; also served as president and chief creative officer at DC Entertainment from February 2010 to June 2018; co-managed the DCEU from 2015 through June 2018
- Walter Hamada – Led DC-Based Film Production as president at Warner Bros. Pictures from January 2018 to October 2022
Films
All productions under DC Films and DC Studios are distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Titles Produced by DC Films
| Title | Release Date | Director(s) | Production Partners | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suicide Squad | August 5, 2016 | David Ayer |
|
DC Extended Universe |
| Wonder Woman | June 2, 2017 | Patty Jenkins |
| |
| Justice League | November 17, 2017 | Zack Snyder Joss Whedon |
| |
| Aquaman | December 21, 2018 | James Wan |
| |
| Shazam! | April 5, 2019 | David F. Sandberg |
|
| Title | Release Date | Director(s) | Production Partners | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joker | October 4, 2019 | Todd Phillips |
|
Joker film series |
| Title | Release Date | Director(s) | Production Partners | Franchise |
|---|
| Title | Release Date | Director(s) | Production Partners | Franchise |
|---|
| Title | Release Date | Director(s) | Production Partners | Franchise |
|---|
| Title | Release Date | Director(s) | Production Partners | Franchise |
|---|
DC Studios Productions
| Title | Release Date | Director | Production Partner(s) | Franchise | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superman | 2025-07-11 | James Gunn | Troll Court Entertainment, The Safran Company | DC Universe | Released |
| Supergirl | 2026-06-26 | Craig Gillespie | N/A | Post-production | |
| Clayface | 2026-09-11 | James Watkins | 6th & Idaho | ||
| Man of Tomorrow | 2027-07-09 | James Gunn | N/A | Pre-production | |
| The Batman: Part II | 2027-10-01 | Matt Reeves | 6th & Idaho, Dylan Clark Productions | The Batman Epic Crime Saga |
DC Studios has also allocated May 29, 2026, and March 5, 2027, as tentative release dates for upcoming projects.
Animated Feature
| Title | Release Date | Director | Production Partner(s) | Animation Studio | Franchise | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Duo | 2028-06-30 | Arthur Mintz | Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, 6th & Idaho | Swaybox Studios | N/A | In production |
Documentary Feature
| Title | Release Date | Directors | Production Companies | Distribution Partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story | 2024-09-21 | Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui | Words + Pictures, Passion Pictures, Misfits Entertainment, Jenco Films | Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films, Fathom Events |
Live-action Series
All live-action series from DC Studios are produced in partnership with Warner Bros. Television.
| Series Title | Release Year | Showrunner | Production Partner(s) | Franchise Affiliation | Original Network | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Penguin | 2024 | Lauren LeFranc | Acid and Tender Productions, 6th & Idaho Motion Picture Company, Dylan Clark Productions, Chapel Place Productions, Zobot Projects | The Batman Epic Crime Saga | HBO | Miniseries format |
| Peacemaker (Season 2) | 2025 | James Gunn | The Safran Company, Troll Court Entertainment | DC Universe | HBO Max | Released |
| Lanterns | 2026 | Chris Mundy | To be announced | DC Universe | HBO | Post-production |
Animated Series
With the exception of Beast Boy: Lone Wolf, all animated series from DC Studios are co-produced alongside Warner Bros. Animation.
| Series Title | Release Year | Showrunner | Production Partner(s) | Animation Studio | Franchise Affiliation | Original Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beast Boy: Lone Wolf | 2024 | Rhys Byfield | Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe | Gigglebug Entertainment | N/A | Cartoon Network UK | Short-form series |
| Creature Commandos | 2024–present | Dean Lorey | Troll Court Entertainment, The Safran Company, Lorey Stories | Bobbypills, Studio IAM | DC Universe | Max | Renewed for second season |
| DC Metal Force | 2024–2025 | N/A | Snowball Studios | N/A | YouTube (DC Kids channel) | Web-based series | |
| Harley Quinn (Season 5) | 2025 | Dean Lorey | Yes, Norman Productions, Ehsugadee Productions, Delicious Non-Sequitur, Lorey Stories | Studio Mir | Harley Quinn universe | Max | |
| Krypto Saves the Day! | 2025 | Ryan Kramer | N/A | Copernicus Animation | DC Universe | HBO Max | Short-form episodes |
Podcast
| Title | Release Period | Production Partner | Original Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Studios Showcase: The Official Podcast | 2024–ongoing | OBB Sound | Max |
| Peacemaker: The Official Podcast with James Gunn | 2025 | HBO Max |
See also
- DC Entertainment
- List of films based on DC Comics publications
- List of television series based on DC Comics publications
- List of unproduced DC Comics projects
- Marvel Studios
External links
- at DC.com
- Articles with short description
- DC Studios
- 2016 establishments in California
- 2022 establishments in California
- American companies established in 2016
- American companies established in 2022
- American film studios
- Companies based in Burbank, California
- DC Entertainment
- Entertainment companies based in California
- Mass media companies established in 2016
- Mass media companies established in 2022
- Warner Bros. divisions
- Television production companies based in California
- Film production companies based in California