DC Comics Boss Jim Lee Reportedly Welcomes Jeremy Latcham After Feeling Frozen Out by Gunn and Safran

The relationship between DC’s comic book publishing arm and its film studio has always been a delicate one. Comics are where the characters began, while the movies and shows decide how the wider world meets them.

DC Studios just went through a major change. On Nov. 9, James Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as stepping down as co-CEOs, with Marvel veteran Jeremy Latcham named president and chief creative officer. He takes over on Dec. 1, and a fresh report is now shedding light on how one of DC’s biggest comics figures feels about it.

According to a Bleeding Cool report by Rich Johnston, Jim Lee has very much welcomed the news of Latcham’s appointment. Lee is the publisher, president and chief creative officer of DC Comics. The same report says Lee had previously said he felt stymied or frozen out by Gunn and Safran at DC Studios.

The report notes that Latcham’s experience comes mostly from Marvel, which is still the brand many people associate with Lee because of his work on ‘X-Men’. Lee went on to found Image Comics and later sold WildStorm to DC. The report is based on industry sourcing rather than an official statement, so it should be read as chatter rather than confirmed fact.

The reported frustration stands in contrast with how Lee spoke about the studio’s leadership in the past. When Gunn and Safran were first named to run DC Studios, Lee publicly congratulated them. At San Diego Comic-Con in 2023, he told The Hollywood Reporter that Gunn was a major ally to the comics world and praised his love of the source material.

Lee was promoted to president of DC Comics in 2023, a role in which he continues to lead efforts to integrate DC’s publishing portfolio of characters and stories across all media. That mandate makes his relationship with the studio especially important, since he is meant to be the link between the page and the screen.

The Bleeding Cool report also points to chatter that Lee has been building a platform of his own. It cites his ‘Comic Shop Talk’ podcast and a single ‘Absolute Batman’ comic that he sold for $19,000, which some in the industry read as preparation for an eventual exit. That reading comes from Johnston’s reporting and has not been confirmed by Lee.

No one at DC Comics received buyout offers in the Skydance layoffs and that ‘Absolute Batman’ helped protect jobs. It also says insiders are still claiming that writer Tom King could be out, though that remains an unconfirmed rumor.

Gunn and Safran have framed the handover as a friendly one. In their statement, they said Latcham has been a longtime creative partner and that they have a creative history with him going back to Marvel. They said they have complete confidence in a smooth, collaborative transition and look forward to working with him on the next generation of DC storytelling.

Latcham, for his part, said DC’s pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture. He will lead DC’s film, television and animation slate, overseeing the creative pipeline, production, talent and strategy. According to one outlet, he will report to Skydance film chiefs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein.

If Lee does feel more welcome under the new regime, it could open the door to closer collaboration between the comics side and the studio. Latcham spent 13 years at Marvel Studios, and that background may shape how he approaches the relationship. Ellison is also reportedly pushing for a Justice League movie as soon as possible, which would lean heavily on DC’s best-known characters.

For now, the picture is based on a mix of official statements and insider reporting. The coming months should show whether the comics and the studio really are heading toward a tighter partnership.

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