After “Superman” landed in theaters last summer, former Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav was ready to pop Champagne. Although the movie had only been playing on the big screen for three days, he touted the “bold 10-year plan” of DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran and promised “the DC vision is clear” and “the momentum is real.”
Fast forward a year and a half, and those plans have imploded. Gunn and Safran were dismissed from the top of the comic book empire, with Marvel Studios alum Jeremy Latcham taking over as president and chief creative officer of DC Studios.
The duo’s ouster wasn’t a total shock, even though they had been assured they were part of David Ellison’s business leadership team at Skydance after Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of WBD closed in October. Had the two stayed, the org change would have represented a demotion. Under the previous regime, they answered directly to Zaslav and not movie co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy. However, Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz made plans to shift Gunn and Safran’s reporting structure into new Skydance Motion Picture Group chiefs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein.
The executive shuffle is yet another setback for DC Studios, which has struggled for years to compete with Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their short-lived leadership stint at DC follows multiple turnovers over the past decade, starting with comic book veterans Geoff Johns and Jon Berg and then Walter Hamada. After DC’s last iteration of superhero movies flamed out with duds like “The Flash” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” Gunn and Safran were hired in 2022 to overhaul some of the company’s most lucrative IP. Efforts to right the ship were mixed at best — with tentpoles and television shows that didn’t always generate enough excitement to justify their price tags. Sources suggest the thinking was they spent big — and lost too much — on projects that just weren’t resonating with audiences.
Gunn’s “Superman,” starring David Corenswet — the duo’s first big swing as bosses — was touted as a hit with $618 million against a $225 million budget. Those ticket sales were promising enough, given the general decline in popularity of comic book movies. But they didn’t necessarily signal the kind of lasting enthusiasm that spawns an interconnected universe. Momentum all but evaporated with July’s money-loser “Supergirl,” which flopped with $126 million globally against a $170 million budget. And while October’s “Clayface” performed modestly with $109 million against a $44 million budget, sources suggest the body-horror thriller won’t break even until the studio factors in downstream revenues.
Insiders have raised eyebrows at Gunn and Safran’s decision to focus on lesser-known characters, like Superman’s cousin Kara El-Zor, aka Supergirl, and the Batman villain Clayface, rather than building out the franchise with marquee names. Although superhero movies have been hit or miss, the ones that spotlight notable characters can still pack a box-office punch. July’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” became the third-biggest movie in history with $2.5 billion, and December’s “Avengers: Endgame,” which brings back just about all of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, could challenge the web-slinging Marvel sequel’s box office records.
“The industry has taken away the wrong lessons from Marvel’s success,” a studio insider tells Variety. “Higher budgets don’t equal quality storytelling.”
Television efforts, too, were uneven. DC’s main small-screen success was “The Penguin,” a “Batman” spinoff led by Colin Farrell, was greenlit before Gunn and Safran took over. But the rest of the slate has generated less fanfare. Gunn’s “Peacemaker” series, anchored by John Cena, debuted in 2022 before he stepped into the studio job. Although initial season was popular, the second season – which launched three years later – failed to match the buzz of the first. “Lanterns,” their first live-action TV show, had posted decent viewership. Yet an insider at the company suggests the crime drama isn’t quite capturing the zeitgeist, pointing out the show didn’t get renewed for a second season.
“People cannot wait to make another season of a hit show,” the source said.
Safran, a steward of New Line’s wildly profitable “Conjuring” universe and producer on “Shazam!” and “Aquaman,” was used to cutting checks and poring over balance sheets before he was hired at DC. However Gunn, best known for directing Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, was always a curious choice for the job. Gunn had a tricky balancing act, needing to shepherd his own directorial efforts while co-managing a slate. Collaborators praised Gunn’s ability to work quickly and efficiently on simultaneous projects. But even he admitted the challenge of needing to multitask and handle the “corporate” nature of the gig.
“The thing my ADHD hyperfocus has had the most difficulty with has been dividing my time between projects I’m incredibly passionate about and the ones I’m not so much and all the things I have to do as a studio head,” Gunn, who regularly converses with comic book enthusiasts on social media, wrote on X after his ouster.
The pair will remain involved with DC, though with less authority. Gunn is directing next summer’s “Superman: Man of Tomorrow,” and the two are producing the 2027 television series “The People v. Gorilla Grodd,” with Skyler Gisondo as his “Superman” character Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, and another season of “Creature Commandos.”
It’s unclear what will become of Gunn and Safran’s decade-long creative strategy of sequels, spinoffs and stand-alone stories. After “Superman: Man of Tomorrow,” which returns Corenswet’s Man of Steel and Nicholas Hoult’s supervillain Lex Luther to the forefront, the only other movie in the pipeline is “The Batman Part II.” After several delays, the sequel is scheduled to be released in 2028 — six years after Robert Pattinson’s original Caped Crusader adventure. Their oft-teased “Wonder Woman” reboot never got off the ground. And though Gunn has hinted he’s writing another DC-related project, it’ll be up to Latcham to decide whether to continue with the vision of the prior regime.
Internally, there’s hope that Latcham — an executive who helped shape the MCU — will get back to basics with DC.
“Jeremy is the kind of guy who would go to Comic-Con to get an autograph from someone,” says another source, “not someone who wants to be there signing autographs.”

A planned biopic focusing on James Dean‘s personal life has found its co-lead.
Mitchell Robertson, the Scottish actor known for a breakout performance on Netflix’s Half Man, has been cast in writer-director Guy Guido’s indie film One Hand Tied, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Robertson will play the star’s close friend and UCLA roommate Bill Bast and joins Brandon Flynn, who was previously announced as playing Dean.
Formerly known as Willie and Jimmy Dean, One Hand Tied is inspired by true events and draws on Guido’s extensive research. In his 2006 memoir, Surviving James Dean, Bast described meeting Dean at the UCLA theater program at the age of 19 and wrote that the two men became roommates, close friends and eventually lovers. Bast claimed they kept their fling private to avoid hurting Dean’s career while the rising star had relationships with female stars, with Bast remaining hopeful that he and Dean would soon live together again.
Five years after meeting Bast, Dean died in a car accident in 1955 at the age of 24, with two of his signature films, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant, released posthumously. His only movie released before his death was 1955’s East of Eden, which is back in the zeitgeist following the recent release of Netflix’s limited series that also adapts John Steinbeck’s novel.
Guido’s script is set from the first meeting between Bill Bast and Dean to the actor’s death on Sept. 30, 1955. Guido spoke to Bast in 2011, four years before his death at age 84. The film will focus on Bast and Dean navigating their evolving relationship and Bast coming to terms with being gay during the 1950s.
Producers include Steven J. Wolfe, known for such projects as (500) Days of Summer, and Flavia Amon, who spent 21 years at Fox Searchlight. Wolfe and Guido are continuing to cast the remaining roles, including the prominent part of Bast’s mother, Beatrice. Guido previously directed the Hulu feature Madonna and the Breakfast Club.
Guido has heard a mixture of reactions from the public in the time since THR first broke the news about the feature. “James Dean has been romanticized and mythologized for more than 70 years, and I think people have become very attached to a particular image of him: the rebellious, brooding, heterosexual heartthrob with a cigarette dangling from his mouth,” he tells THR. “For some, the suggestion that his sexuality may have been more complex than that challenges a fantasy they’ve held onto for decades. But others are genuinely excited by the possibility of seeing a more layered, vulnerable and more dimensional James Dean — someone who wasn’t necessarily confined to the identity Hollywood created for him. And that’s what really interests me. I’m not looking to completely redefine him, but I am looking to explore the human being who existed beyond the mythology.”
Robertson played the younger version of Jamie Bell’s character in Half Man and can soon be seen in the BBC drama Counsels. “The moment I saw him in Half Man, I knew he was the one,” says Guido. “I was looking for vulnerability and an innate likability, but also strength. Bill lived in a time that was hostile to anyone even perceived as gay, yet he sustained a five-year roller-coaster relationship with James Dean. That takes resilience.”
For his part, Robertson notes, “Guy has crafted a beautifully tender script that steps past the image of the icon and brings to life the human behind it. Through Bill’s eyes, we see James Dean before his name was in lights, before the famous red jacket with the upturned collar. We see him flawed, ambitious and, ultimately, as a young man bursting with love for his friend.”
Wolfe says of Robertson’s audition, “His performance was so beautiful and authentic, it felt as if I were watching dailies from the actual production. I can’t imagine anyone more fitting and worthy of this role.”
Flynn’s previous credits include True Detective, 13 Reasons Why and The Parenting. He makes his Broadway debut this fall with Here There Are Blueberries.
Robertson is represented by Taylor Jefferson at The Artists Partnership and Maryam Hunwick at Hunwick Associates.

The “Daddy Gang” is finally getting to hear from the co- “founding father” of “Call Her Daddy.”
Sofia Franklyn, who co-created the famous podcast with Alex Cooper, released her memoir “Daddy Issues” on Tuesday, in which she details her falling out with her now ex-friend.
The duo shot to viral fame in 2018, when the podcast was still under Barstool Sports. It became known for candid conversations about commonly taboo topics for women to discuss publicly, including raunchy sex stories.
But the two professionally split up in 2020, news that initially shocked their listeners. Cooper went on to host the podcast solo, eventually moving it to Spotify and now SiriusXM in lucrative deals that helped propel her to mainstream success.
Meanwhile, Franklyn, who is an influencer with over 619,000 Instagram followers, launched her own podcast titled “Sofia with an F.”
Over the years, rumors had circulated about what exactly happened between Franklyn and Cooper. Here are some of the biggest claims in Franklyn’s 240-page book.
Warnings from others in Cooper’s orbit
Growing up in Utah with a single mom, Franklyn writes about struggling to find a clear path. She was arrested three times: once for using a fake ID and twice for underage drinking. Eventually, she left to start anew in New York City, largely to escape an abusive relationship.
But her early days in the city were far from ideal. She lived with her aunt and was working at Morgan Stanley in a job under a toxic boss who she claims harassed her regularly. She eventually moved into her own place that she could barely afford and found herself feeling extremely lonely.
Until she met Cooper.
A random girl Franklyn befriended in a ride share connected her to Cooper and her childhood friend, Lauren, who were looking for a third roommate.
Cooper and Franklyn ended up becoming inseparable, with Lauren largely out of the picture as she spent much of her time with her boyfriend. But one night, Franklyn writes, Lauren and her shared a rare evening in the apartment alone together.
That’s when Lauren asked Franklyn whether she thought it was weird that Cooper “tossed” her aside.
“You showed up and it was like I never existed,” Franklyn said Lauren told her, which prompted Franklyn to apologize.
Lauren also told Franklyn that Cooper “uses you because you’re hot, to like, go to parties and stuff.”
At the time, Franklyn wrote that she felt defensive of her friendship with Cooper and did not think of it as “using” her.
But later, another close friend of Cooper’s from childhood also seemingly warned her that Cooper was not going to stick with her.
Muji, known to early “Call Her Daddy” listeners as “Milfhunter,” worked on the podcast with the duo. He told Franklyn that Cooper “doesn’t have friends. I’ve watched it happen since high school.”
When Cooper abruptly fired Muji, Franklyn said he told her: “She’s gonna f— you.”
An alleged firing attempt, secret raise and IP disagreement
Cooper and Frankyn’s stars rose quickly at Barstool, as the two took creative control of their show with company founder Dave Portnoy’s blessing.
But Franklyn started to feel things change after the Barstool holiday party. That night, she felt “insane anxiety,” drank excessively and fought with Cooper.
An angry Cooper told Franklyn she was “rude” and “aggressive” toward her at the party and that everyone, including Portnoy, had noticed and wanted to fire her.
Franklyn says she wanted to apologize to Portnoy for her behavior, but was told not to by Cooper. When she finally did say something, Portnoy appeared to dismiss it, saying “the girls got in a fight.”
It wasn’t until later, Franklyn writes, that she learned Cooper used the party as a way to negotiate a raise for herself.
Muji purportedly told her that Cooper said, “If I have to put up with her, I need more money.” She got the raise: $20,000 more than Franklyn every year.
“She didn’t tell you because she didn’t want you to know she tried to get you fired,” Franklyn said Muji told her.
In 2020, when the duo was negotiating their new contract together, Franklyn wrote they sent Barstool an email with a new proposal in which they asked for “50/50 split of all revenue derived from Barstool’s exploitation of the property (i.e., advertisers, sponsors, merch, etc.)” and a “minimum guarantee — $1M each, per year.”
The negotiations centered around the IP for “Call Her Daddy,” which Barstool Sports owned and could technically continue without Franklyn or Cooper attached.
Amid their talks with Barstool, Franklyn said she and Cooper agreed their goal was staying together. They even came up with a spin-off podcast if the negotiations fell through, titling it “The Fathers.”
“We’re being corny as s—, but it’s because we’re both blissed out on the plan and our future — we don’t know how Barstool will respond, but we know that staying together is more important than losing the IP, or whatever they may threaten. What is the name without us?”
But in the end, Franklyn was ousted as co-host. Portnoy called Franklyn to tell her that Cooper had met with him separately and proposed going on without Franklyn.
“She came to me with a plan, and I needed an episode. There’s no clear favorite,” he told her, according to Franklyn’s memoir. “You could always have your own show, and we promote the shit out of it like we did with Call Her Daddy. I think it would be huge.”
Portnoy also said Cooper had hired her own lawyer and claimed that Franklyn had been “the one that’s been dragging this on, and she’s been ready to sign this thing.”
Franklyn claims Cooper subsequently locked her out of their shared social accounts and posted a 52-minute YouTube break-up video called “The Truth about Call Her Daddy” in which she described Franklyn as a “liability.” Six years later, the video is still up and has amassed 4.6 million views.
Representatives for Portnoy and Cooper did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
Cooper’s alleged legal threat
The book opens with a scene in which Franklyn’s book agent calls her to say she received an angry call from Matt Kaplan.
Kaplan, a Hollywood producer, married Cooper in 2024. The couple co-founded the Unwell Network, a subsidiary of the media company Trending.
Franklyn writes that her agent told her Kaplan said Cooper would sue.
Representatives from Unwell told the New York Times that Kaplan “never discussed the book’s claims or any intent to sue the author with Verve.”
A representative for Kaplan did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Usher andChris Brown have not resolved their issues a week after beefing behind the scenes at their Atlanta concert, TMZ has learned.
Sources tell TMZ Usher and Chris have not had a sit-down since they got into an argument backstage last weekend … which caused their show to start nearly three hours late. One source said the relationship is “still icy” … despite people like singer Tank claiming the two had conversations and things were fixed.
We’re told the initial dispute started because Usher wanted to start the show on time, while Chris wanted to wait for the fans to make it into the stadium due to heavy traffic and road closures.
Our sources explain Usher was also unfazed by Chris’ actions days after their beef … specifically Chris bringing out Gabrielle Cheyenne, who previously rejected him on stage. We’re told Usher had no issue with it.
The cast and crew have maintained a good energy, despite the singer’s feud, sources tell TMZ. The crew is hopeful Chris and Usher will sit down soon and get their energy back for the remaining shows on the tour.

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to revoke the release of Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, after the 82-year-old allegedly cut off an ankle monitor while awaiting trial over the possession of child sexual abuse materials.
Markle was arrested on Friday after officials found child sexual abuse images in storage units belonging to him in California, including sexually explicit photographs of himself with minors, the Justice Department said. He was taken into custody in Tampa, Florida, where he was released under house arrest.
He allegedly cut off his ankle monitor at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Tuesday.
“We are asking the court to revoke his release and detain him pending trial, and we will continue to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law,” Essayli said.
FBI investigators found slides, film negatives, and books that contained “suspected child pornography” in two storage units rented by Markle in Los Angeles, according to court documents. The film negatives including images of naked “pre-pubescent” girls with an adult male, who a witness positively identified as Markle, the FBI said.
One unit had mail bearing the name Thomas Markle and an international driver’s permit with his name, birthdate and a photo appearing to be him, according to a criminal complaint. Markle’s storage rentals date as far back as the summer of 2008, the complaint said.
The seizure last week came weeks after news that an investigation was opened into Markle in the Philippines over allegations that he kept similar images at his home while living there. There were thousands of photos featuring “underage male and females” recovered, authorities said.
Markle has been living in a senior care facility in Florida, according to The Associated Press. He was reportedly forced to return to the U.S. after living in Philippines after he suffered a stroke a leg was amputated.
A judge ordered an independent psychological evaluation to see if Markle was fit to stand trial. The order noted Markle’s health condition, age and lack of recall as reasonable cause to believe he may have some mental “disease or defect” that would render him mentally incompetent.
Markle has denied the allegations, describing the accusations as “sick lies.” An attorney for Markle in court records for Markle did not immediately return a request for comment from NBC News on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the Prince Harry and Meghan declined to comment on the arrest last week.
Last month, Meghan revealed that she had been made aware of allegations against her father years ago. She said in a statement that she was “deeply disturbed” by the allegations and that her relationship has been limited with him over the years.
He did not attend her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, which was the subject of widespread media scrutiny.
Meghan said she has also chosen to keep her children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, away from her father for their protection.
“The breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine,” she said.
British police confirmed that Meghan was passed a letter in January 2019 which contained “a number of claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom.” London’s Metropolitan Police referred itself to the country’s policing watchdog over the handling of the allegations, saying it had not informed other law enforcement agencies of the allegations.