Gunn & Safran Go Into PR Mode To Save DCU Jobs

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After Netflix successfully bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, Bloomberg released a seemingly positive article about James Gunn and Peter Safran. However, the article’s release so soon after the acquisition has sparked suspicion rather than reassurance.

The report details their ambitious plans for DC and outlines current projects. However, the most important detail isn’t explicitly stated: their agreements extend until spring 2027, coinciding with the anticipated completion of the deal between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Six-Month Extension Lines Up With Netflix Deal Timeline

Bloomberg reports that James Gunn and Peter Safran’s contracts with the studio are up in 2027, and it appears they recently received a six-month extension without any public announcement.

This new timeframe coincides almost exactly with when Netflix is expected to finalize its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that will also include the premiere of the film Man of Tomorrow.

Interestingly, our sources revealed that James Gunn and Peter Safran weren’t given long-term contracts like the heads of Warner Bros. films, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, and that’s a significant sign of potential issues.

Superman a box office failure

The report backs up what we previously stated: James Gunn’s Superman movie didn’t perform well in theaters.

Bloomberg is presenting the movie as a success, but clarifies that Superman only turned a profit when you include revenue from ticket sales, online rentals, and merchandise.

The movie’s poor performance at the box office indicates a lack of audience interest, particularly outside of domestic markets.

Selling Themselves Hard

I just read this article in Bloomberg about those two, and honestly, it felt a little too positive. There were quotes from Zaslav gushing about their ‘creative vision,’ which felt…off. It didn’t read like genuine confidence to me, more like a carefully crafted PR piece trying to project stability when I suspect things are still pretty shaky behind the scenes.

If James Gunn and Peter Safran were firmly committed to their roles, there wouldn’t be any need to write an article explaining their importance.

The piece reads like two executives campaigning to keep their jobs under a new owner.

During an earnings call, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos praised The Penguin as excellent television and expressed interest in similar shows. This came despite the fact that viewership for James Gunn’s Peacemaker dropped significantly—nearly 40%—leading to its cancellation, with Sarandos not mentioning Gunn’s DC Universe plans.

Netflix’s Plans Remain a Wildcard

One analyst believes DC is the biggest potential win from the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, but it’s still unclear what WBD plans to do with the superhero universe. They haven’t said if they’ll create a connected DC Universe, scale back the operation, or focus on standalone movies and licensing the characters to others – which is what sources have been asking about.

That ambiguity puts every DC leadership role under review — including Gunn and Safran’s.

The pair is still publicly outlining their plans, but it’s clear that if they have to work so hard to prove their worth, their long-term positions at Netflix are far from secure.

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2025-12-07 02:01