James Gunn's DC future may face an earlier reckoning than expected.
Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios in late 2022, inheriting a franchise still recovering from years of uneven releases, canceled projects, and leadership changes.
Their plan was to build one connected DC Universe across film, television, animation, and games, while preserving separate projects such as Matt Reeves’ The Batman series.
Gunn became the public face of that effort. He wrote and directed Superman, answered fan questions online, and positioned the new DCU as a more consistent alternative to the previous Warner Bros. approach.
That strategy received an early boost in 2025. Superman opened to $125 million domestically and finished its theatrical run with $618.7 million worldwide, giving DC its most convincing hit in years.
The next film has been more difficult.
Supergirl Raises Questions for DC Studios
Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock, was the first DCU theatrical release not directed by Gunn. It was also expected to show that the new universe could support stories beyond Superman.
Instead, the film opened to $37.1 million domestically. Its worldwide total currently stands at roughly $89.1 million, a weak result for a production reportedly budgeted between $170 million and $180 million.
Some audience criticism has focused on the film’s darker tone, uneven pacing, and less familiar version of Kara Zor-El. The movie leaned into a more bruised and reckless character than viewers may have expected from Superman’s cousin.
Others questioned whether Supergirl was the right follow-up to Superman. The film’s space-road-trip structure and smaller-scale character focus made it a very different proposition from Gunn’s more traditional superhero launch.
At the same time, some of the reaction toward Alcock has gone beyond ordinary criticism. Women-led superhero films often attract bad-faith backlash online, and Supergirl has faced familiar complaints about its female lead that have little to do with the finished movie.
That does not erase the film’s commercial problems. Supergirl can be a box office disappointment while still being judged more harshly in some corners of social media than a comparable male-led superhero release.
The bigger issue for DC Studios is that concerns about the film reportedly began long before it reached theaters.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, filming wrapped in May 2025, but by that fall the studio and Gillespie reportedly knew the movie was not fully landing.
A December test screening was described as only adequate. DC Studios then became more involved in post-production, bringing in writer Jeremy Slater while original screenwriter Ana Nogueira remained part of the process.
The film also underwent additional photography, with work reportedly done on the climactic fight. Music became another point of disagreement, according to the report, with competing ideas over the film’s major soundtrack moments.
The Hollywood Reporter said the movie was tested at least four times, with scores largely remaining in the 60s. One source said the strongest score reached 70.
DC later tested two versions of the film — one assembled by Gillespie and another by the studio. The studio’s cut reportedly scored only two points higher, and the film was not tested again before release.
Gunn’s Contract Timing Adds Pressure
The behind-the-scenes story matters because Gunn is not simply attached to DC as a producer. He is the studio’s co-chief, its leading creative voice, and the filmmaker behind the reboot’s most successful release so far.
Safran addressed Supergirl’s performance after its opening weekend. “While Supergirl didn’t meet our box office expectations, it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in.”
However, The Hollywood Reporter noted that sources believe Gunn and Safran’s contracts could end either in late 2026 or late 2027. Warner Bros. Discovery has not confirmed either date publicly.
That is why Gunn’s future could be addressed within five months. If the earlier contract date is accurate, Warner Bros. Discovery may soon need to decide whether to renew the pair’s deals or change the structure of DC Studios.
There is no report that Gunn is being fired or preparing to leave. The same report states that Gunn and Safran are expected to continue overseeing the DC slate.
Still, Supergirl has made the timing more significant. The film was supposed to prove the DCU could operate beyond Gunn’s own directing work. Its troubled post-production and weak box office have instead put more attention on how the new studio is being run.
DC still has Clayface and Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow, a semi-Superman sequel, ahead. But if his contract is up this year, Warner Bros. Discovery could make a decision on Gunn’s future before the next Superman film has a chance to reshape the conversation.
