DC Studios

Last updated

DC Studios
FormerlyDC Films (2016–2022)
Company type Division
Industry
Genre Superhero fiction
Founded
  • May 2016;7 years ago (2016-05) (as DC Films)
  • November 1, 2022;17 months ago (2022-11-01) (as DC Studios)
Founder Geoff Johns
Jon Berg
Headquarters 4000 Warner Boulevard,
Burbank, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Products
  • Motion pictures
  • Television shows
Brands
Owner Warner Bros. Discovery
Parent
Website www.dc.com/movies
Footnotes /references
[1] [2] [3]

DC Studios (formerly known as DC Films) is an American film, television, and animation studio that is a division of Warner Bros., [4] [5] which is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). It is dedicated to the production of films, series, and animations based on characters from DC Comics, among them is their flagship franchise, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). James Gunn and Peter Safran assumed control of the company, on November 1, 2022. [4] Previously, Walter Hamada was the president of DC Films from 2018 until his departure in October 2022. [6]

Contents

The studio's films Aquaman (2018) and Joker (2019) are among the 50 highest-grossing films of all time, with Joker becoming the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion. In addition to the DCU, DC Studios was also involved with the production of other DC-character film franchises that have exceeded $1 billion in North American box office revenue, including Superman , Batman and Wonder Woman multi-film franchises.

Background

National era

During DC's National era, the company licensed Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman (and other All-American Comics characters) to Republic Pictures, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures for advertising serials, shorts and feature films. Other comic characters, such as Fawcett Comics' Shazam and Quality Comics' Plastic Man (which ultimately sold to DC), also had a serial short.

Warner Communications era

After the release of the first feature-length Batman film, Kinney National Company (later Warner Communications) purchased National Comics Publications in 1967 and then Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in 1969. This purchase meant that the comic company's television and theatrical distribution turned over to Warner Bros., which led to the launch films and television series based on DC characters. In the late 1980s Warner Bros. acquired a full distribution rights after the release of the Superman and Swamp Thing films. The Batman films once again marked a return to the big screen.

History

DC Films

After the divisive reception of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice , Warner Bros. Pictures made moves to stabilize the direction of the DC Extended Universe. The studio reorganized in May 2016 to have genre-responsible film executives, thus DC Entertainment franchise films under Warner Bros. were placed under a newly created division, DC Films, created under Warner Bros. executive vice president Jon Berg and DC Comics chief content officer Geoff Johns. This was done in hopes of competing more directly with Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe. Johns also kept his existing role at DC Comics. [7] However, the division's formation was not designed to override the "director-driven" mandate. [8]

Justice League had one of the biggest film budgets (nearly $300 million) but grossed about $96 million in its opening weekend. An analysis in The Washington Post expected that there would be a course correction again, with a possible change in leadership. [9] Forbes contributors felt that the course correction would be for DC Films to give up on the shared universe, while continuing with the Wonder Woman films and occasionally other films, as Warner Bros. has other franchises they can work with. [10] Despite this, in December the studio reiterated their current film slate for the unofficially titled DC Extended Universe. [11] That same month, Warner Bros. announced that a new strategy and organization of DC Films would occur with Berg leaving his position as studio's co-president of production to form a Warner Bros.-based production company with Roy Lee, the producer of The Lego Movie and It . In January 2018, Warner Bros. executive Walter Hamada was appointed as new president of DC Films, to oversee the films in the DC Extended Universe. Hamada was closely associated with New Line Cinema, and helped develop horror films, such as It and The Conjuring film franchises. [12]

Restructuring

In April 2022, after the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery, the new CEO David Zaslav was exploring a restructuring of DC Entertainment, including having a creative leader akin to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to lead its film and television projects. [13] Later in July, Toby Emmerich stepped down as the head of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group. The group was restructured to give DC Films, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Warner Animation Group respective leadership. Former MGM executives Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy became the co-executives of Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. They were also temporarily signed to oversee the remaining units of the group until the new positions were filled. [14] [15]

When the release of the film Batgirl was canceled by Warner Bros. Discovery in August, Hamada was reportedly not consulted regarding the decision and only learned about it when De Luca and Abdy informed him at a test screening for Black Adam (2022). Hamada was upset and considered resigning, but agreed to stay until Black Adam's release. [16] Later that month, Dan Lin entered talks to oversee DC's film and television divisions. From this position, Lin was expected to report directly to Zaslav, while Hamada would depart the studio. [17] [18] In September, Lin and Warner Bros. Discovery ended negotiations and agreed to part ways. [19] During Black Adam 's Times Square premiere in October, star and producer Dwayne Johnson said he could be a consultant at DC Films, helping the studio find its next creative leader. [20] Later that month, it was reported that De Luca had been effectively running DC Films in place of Walter Hamada. [21] On October 19, Hamada departed from the company, just two days before the release of Black Adam. [22]

DC Studios

Shortly after Hamada left the CEO position, James Gunn and Peter Safran (who previously worked together on James Gunn's PG Porn and The Suicide Squad ) were revealed to serve as the co-CEOs/co-chairmen of the studio and DC Films was rebranded as "DC Studios". The duo was tasked to oversee production on films, television, and animation under the DC label, reporting directly to David Zaslav, while also working alongside but independently of heads of other divisions. Gunn oversees the creative development on DC projects, while Safran oversees the production side. Their roles began effectively on November 1 the same year. [4] [23] [24]

In November, Gunn said that the studio would focus on multiple DCU live-action and animated projects, but also stated that they would acknowledge fan responses and complaints, [25] and confirmed all subsequent DC projects would be released under the DC Studios banner, [26] including those that were filmed prior to the rebranding. In December of the same year, Gunn and Henry Cavill announced that Cavill would no longer return as Superman in any future projects. Gunn also announced that he was writing a new Superman film, based on a younger version of the character. Ben Affleck (who previously portrayed Bruce Wayne/Batman) was also said to be in talks to direct a new DC Studios project, but Affleck himself would later state that he was not directing any film for DC. [27] [28] Gunn later revealed that new DC films would have an equal focus on popular and obscure characters, drawing inspiration from the DC animated series Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice . [5] [6]

Gunn and Safran announced the first chapter of their universe titled "Gods and Monsters" on January 31, 2023. They also assembled a writers' room featuring Drew Goddard, Jeremy Slater, Christina Hodson, Christal Henry, and Tom King. [29] Projects that are not a part of the shared universe will be branded as "DC Elseworlds". [30] The following month, Gunn confirmed development for animated films within both the DCU and DC Elseworlds. [31] Gunn said in March that they were working on potentially incorporating characters from DC's Vertigo Comics imprint beyond the Swamp Thing film, [32] and said the following month that there were plans to incorporate characters from the DC-owned Milestone Media, such as Static. [33] In February 2024, Gunn and Safran worked with Warner Bros. Discovery corporate siblings to acquire the Christopher Reeve documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story . [34] [35]

Management

Current

Former

Production library

Films

Live-action

TitleRelease dateDirector(s)Co-production withFranchiseDistributorNotes
Under DC Films
Suicide Squad August 5, 2016 David Ayer RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Atlas Entertainment 		DC Extended Universe Warner Bros. Pictures —
Wonder Woman June 2, 2017 Patty Jenkins Atlas Entertainment
Cruel and Unusual Films
Justice League November 17, 2017 Zack Snyder
Joss Whedon [lower-alpha 1] 		RatPac-Dune Entertainment [lower-alpha 2]
Atlas Entertainment
Cruel and Unusual Films
Aquaman December 21, 2018 James Wan RatPac-Dune Entertainment
The Safran Company
Cruel and Unusual Films
Mad Ghost Productions
Shazam! April 5, 2019 David F. Sandberg New Line Cinema
The Safran Company
Seven Bucks Productions
Joker October 4, 2019 Todd Phillips Village Roadshow Pictures
Bron Creative
Joint Effort Productions		Joker film series
Birds of Prey [lower-alpha 3] February 7, 2020 Cathy Yan LuckyChap Entertainment
Kroll & Co. Entertainment
Clubhouse Productions		DC Extended Universe
Wonder Woman 1984 December 25, 2020Patty JenkinsAtlas Entertainment
The Stone Quarry
Zack Snyder's Justice League March 18, 2021Zack Snyder Access Entertainment
Atlas Entertainment
Dune Entertainment
The Stone Quarry		 HBO Max exclusive
The Suicide Squad August 5, 2021 James Gunn Atlas Entertainment
The Safran Company		—
The Batman March 4, 2022 Matt Reeves 6th & Idaho
Dylan Clark Productions		The Batman shared universe
Black Adam October 21, 2022 Jaume Collet-Serra New Line Cinema
Seven Bucks Productions
FlynnPictureCo. 		DC Extended Universe
Under DC Studios
Shazam! Fury of the Gods March 17, 2023David F. SandbergNew Line Cinema
The Safran Company		DC Extended UniverseWarner Bros. Pictures—
The Flash June 16, 2023 Andy Muschietti The Disco Factory
Double Dream
Blue Beetle August 18, 2023 Angel Manuel Soto The Safran Company
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom December 22, 2023James WanThe Safran Company
Atomic Monster
Domain Entertainment
Upcoming
Joker: Folie à Deux October 4, 2024Todd PhillipsBron Studios
Village Roadshow Pictures
Creative Wealth Media
Joint Effort		Joker film seriesWarner Bros. PicturesPost-production
Superman July 11, 2025James Gunn— DC Universe Filming [48]
The Batman – Part II October 2, 2026Matt Reeves6th & Idaho
Dylan Clark Productions		The Batman shared universePre-production [49] [50]

Documentary

TitleRelease dateDirector(s)Production companiesCo-distribution with
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story September 2024Ian Bonhôte
Peter Ettedgui		Words + Pictures
Passion Pictures
Misfits Entertainment		 Warner Bros. Pictures
HBO
CNN Films
Max

Animation

TitleRelease dateDirector(s)Co-production withFranchiseCrossover withRelease formatDistributorNotes
Legion of Super-Heroes February 7, 2023Jeff Wamester Warner Bros. Animation Tomorrowverse —Direct-to-video Warner Bros. Home Entertainment —
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham March 28, 2023 Sam Liu
Christopher Berkley		—
Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes and Huntsmen, Part One April 25, 2023Kerry ShawcrossWarner Bros. Animation
Rooster Teeth Productions 		RWBY
Justice League: Warworld July 25, 2023Jeff WamesterWarner Bros. AnimationTomorrowverse [51] —
Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! September 26, 2023Celica Aranovich Hamilton— Scooby-Doo
Justice League X RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part Two October 17, 2023Kerry Shawcross
Dustin Mattews
Yssa Badiola		Warner Bros. Animation
Rooster Teeth Productions		RWBY
Merry Little Batman December 8, 2023Mike Roth [52] Warner Bros. AnimationBat-Family—Direct-to-streaming Amazon MGM Studios
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One January 9, 2024 [53] Jeff Wamester [54] TomorrowverseDirect-to-videoWarner Bros. Home Entertainment
Upcoming
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part TwoApril 23, 2024 [55] Jeff Wamester [56] Warner Bros AnimationTomorrowverse—Direct-to-videoWarner Bros. Home EntertainmentIn development
Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires [57] [58] 2024Juan Meza-LeónWarner Bros. Animation
Ánima 		—Direct-to-streaming Max Latin America Latin America-United States co-production
In production
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part ThreeTBAWarner Bros. AnimationTomorrowverseDirect-to-video Warner Bros. Home Entertainment In development
Watchmen TBA
Milestone [59] TBA

Television

Live-action

SeriesAiredShowrunnerCo-production withFranchiseOriginal networkNotes
Peacemaker 2022–present James Gunn Warner Bros. Television
The Safran Company
Troll Court Entertainment 		DC Extended Universe
(Season 1)
DC Universe
(Season 2)		 HBO Max
(Season 1)
Max
(Season 2)		—
The Sandman Allan Heinberg Warner Bros. Television
PurePop Inc.
The Blank Corporation
Phantom Four 		The Sandman shared universe Netflix —
Upcoming
Dead Boy Detectives 2024 [60] [61] [62] Steve Yockey Warner Bros. Television
Berlanti Productions
Jeremy Carver Productions		The Sandman shared universe [63] NetflixPost-production
The Penguin Lauren LeFranc Warner Bros. Television
6th & Idaho
Dylan Clark Productions		The Batman shared universeMaxMiniseries; Post-production [64] [65]

Animation

SeriesAiredShowrunnerCo-production withFranchiseOriginal networkNotes
Ongoing
Teen Titans Go! 2013–present Aaron Horvath
Michael Jelenic
Peter Rida Michail
Peggy Regan		 Warner Bros. Animation — Cartoon Network Season 8 onwards
Harley Quinn 2019–presentJustin HalpernWarner Bros. Animation
Yes, Norman Productions
Delicious Non-Sequitur		Harley Quinn universe DC Universe (2019–2020)
HBO Max (2022–2023)
Max (2023–present)		—
Batwheels 2022–presentMichael G. SternWarner Bros. Animation
Bang Zoom Ltd.		— Cartoonito Season 2 onwards
My Adventures with Superman 2023–presentJake WyattWarner Bros. Animation Adult Swim —
Upcoming
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! 2024 [66] [67] Justin HalpernWarner Bros. Animation
Yes, Norman Productions
Delicious Non-Sequitur		Harley Quinn universeMaxIn production
Creature Commandos James Gunn Warner Bros. Animation DC Universe
Batman: Caped Crusader TBA Bruce Timm Warner Bros. Animation
Bad Robot
6th and Idaho 		— Amazon Prime Video —
Bat-FamilyMike Roth [68] Warner Bros. AnimationBat-FamilyIn development [69]
Beast Boy: Lone WolfTBAWarner Bros. Animation
Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe 		TBACartoon NetworkIn development [70]

Notes

  1. ↑ Whedon was hired by Warner Bros. Pictures during post-production to significantly alter the film. He is credited as co-screenwriter, while his directing was credited theatrically as executive producer. Despite this, Snyder retains sole credit as director of the film.
  2. ↑ In home release, RatPac-Dune Entertainment was replaced with Access Entertainment (RatPac's current owner) and simply Dune Entertainment, following the rape and sexual harassment allegations against RatPac-Dune's CEO, Brett Ratner. [45]
  3. ↑ Also known as Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey or the full title of Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). [46] [47]

See also

Related Research Articles

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James Francis Gunn Jr. is an American filmmaker and studio executive. He began his career as a screenwriter in the mid-1990s, starting at Troma Entertainment with Tromeo and Juliet (1997). He then began working as a director, starting with the horror-comedy film Slither (2006), and moving to the superhero genre with Super (2010), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), The Suicide Squad (2021), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). In 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery hired Gunn and Peter Safran to become co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios. Under DC Studios, Gunn will co-produce and executive produce every film and television series under the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) media franchise alongside Safran, which will act as a soft-reboot of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). He will also continue to write and direct various projects set in the DCU, including the upcoming film Superman (2025).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman in film</span> Film adaptations of the DC superhero

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Safran</span> American film producer

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  2. ↑ "DC Intrigue: 'Lego' Franchise Producer Dan Lin In Pole Position For Top Spot". deadline. August 25, 2022. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
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  14. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony & Mike Fleming Jr. (June 1, 2022). "Toby Emmerich Out As Warner Bros Motion Picture Group Chairman; Michael De Luca & Pam Abdy To Lead Studio". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
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