Director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran’s exit from DC Studios came as a bit of a shock on Monday, especially since it felt like their epic plans for the Warner Bros. -owned DC Comics universe were just getting started. While it was preceded by the TV shows Creature Commandos and Peacemaker , it was only in 2025 that Superman served as the big kickoff to Gunn’s plans for the DC universe — and a very successful one, based on critical approval and box office . Exactly the kind of launchpad one needs for a franchise refresh on the level Gunn and Safran were launching.

And DC Studios has had its successes since Superman . The HBO series Lanterns , although not as creatively successful as this viewer might have liked , was a big ratings player for HBO and brought the stellar Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler into the DC fold. Also, October’s Clayface just reached $100 million worldwide, ensuring that the modestly-budgeted $40 million stand-alone movie will not lose money for Warner Bros.…