With James Gunn and Peter Safran now confirmed to be stepping down from DC Studios, new details have emerged about the relationship between the company’s comics publishing and screen divisions. According to Bleeding Cool reporter Rich Johnston, DC Comics Publisher, President and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee had previously expressed frustration over his position at the studio, reportedly believing the two executives had restricted his involvement and frozen him out.
Johnston reported that sources told him Lee had previously said he felt stymied or frozen out by Gunn and Safran at DC Studios. The claim has now put a spotlight on the working relationship between DC’s publishing and entertainment operations.
Lee first established himself as an industry heavyweight through his work on Marvel’s "X-Men" comics. He later co-founded Image Comics and sold his WildStorm imprint to DC, gradually becoming one of the central figures in the publisher’s business. Despite serving as DC Comics’ Publisher, President and Chief Creative Officer, however, Lee reportedly did not receive the level of involvement he had hoped for under Gunn and Safran’s leadership at DC Studios.
DC Comics and DC Studios operate as separate business units, though comic book creators have previously been invited to consult on screen adaptations and offer input on characters and stories. After taking charge of DC Studios in 2022, Gunn assembled his own creative team, bringing in comic book writer Tom King to work on projects including "Lanterns" and "Mister Miracle."
In an earlier interview with GQ, King recalled how the original DCU creative team came together. He said Gunn and Safran gathered several writers to discuss the franchise’s future soon after taking over, including Drew Goddard, whose credits include Marvel’s "Daredevil" series and "The Martian," as well as "Moon Knight" head writer and "The Umbrella Academy" developer Jeremy Slater.
King explained that Gunn and Safran assembled a strong creative writers’ room early in the process, largely consisting of people Gunn liked or already knew. The group had roughly five or six members, with King serving as its only comic book writer. Still, Gunn’s decision to build his own writers’ room does not prove that Lee was deliberately sidelined, and Bleeding Cool did not identify any specific projects in which Lee’s involvement was restricted.
Johnston also noted that Lee has increasingly pursued public-facing personal projects in recent years, including the Comic Shop Talk podcast. He also reportedly earned $19,000 from the sale of an "Absolute Batman" comic. Those moves have led some industry observers to wonder whether Lee has been creating opportunities for himself beyond DC Comics.
According to Johnston, some have interpreted Lee’s decision to pursue those projects as an effort to build his own platform and prepare for a potential departure. That remains industry speculation, however, and there is currently no evidence that Lee has formally submitted his resignation.
The situation may now be changing. Skydance announced that Gunn and Safran will leave their leadership roles on December 1, 2026, with former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham taking over as President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Studios. Lee’s attitude toward the studio’s leadership has reportedly shifted in response.
Johnston said he understood that Lee strongly welcomed the news of Latcham’s appointment. Latcham helped shape the early Marvel Cinematic Universe and worked alongside Kevin Feige, while Lee’s own career remains closely associated with Marvel, particularly the reputation he built during his landmark run on "X-Men."
In the official announcement of his appointment, Latcham emphasized that he plans to work with filmmakers, comic book creators and artists across DC’s film, television and animation projects. Whether that means Lee will receive a greater role in screen development remains unclear. The reported tensions between Lee, Gunn and Safran — along with claims that Lee may have considered leaving DC Comics — have not been confirmed by the executives involved.
via： Bleeding Cool GQ