Posted in: HBO, Max, Movies, TV | Tagged: dc studios, paramount, Warner Bros

DC Studios Projects NOT on Hold Over Paramount/Warner Bros Deal: Gunn

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn shut down rumors that DC Studios projects were on hold until the Paramount-Warner Bros deal is finalized.

While the ongoing antitrust lawsuit between CA Attorney General Rob Bonta (and the 12 states he represents) and David Ellison's Paramount Skydance to block Paramount Skydance's efforts to buy David Zaslav's Warner Bros Discovery for $110 billion is set to go to trial in March 2027, there is a lot of focus on whether a deal can be done before then. There have also been concerns about how the deal and the delay could impact the entertainment industry, and that's led to rumors, speculation, and quite a bit of misinformation. DC Studios' co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran haven't been exempt from it, with reports over the past few days saying that filmmaker Andy Muschietti said his Batman: The Brave and the Bold film was on hold until after the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros merger is finalized.

That raised concerns that DC Studios' film and television projects were on hold until there was clarity on the deal. With production set to get underway on the new series, The People v. Gorilla Grodd, expected to kick off soon, it would be safe to assume that was all just a rumor and nothing more. But to make it official, Gunn responded to the question on social media. After noting that he wasn't sure if that report about what Muschietti said was accurate, Gunn added, "No. Nothing is on hold." Here's a look at Gunn's response:

In October 2025, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that Ellison was looking to keep Warner Bros. Discovery intact if a merger is finalized, noting that he "wants to keep the creative teams of the two studios, while consolidating some of the marketing and distribution." That would mean Ellison would be looking to keep Gunn and Safran, as well as Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group's Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy (assuming they plan to stay after a completed merger). During a "blue carpet" premiere for DC Studios' Milly Alcock-starring Supergirl, executive producer Lars P. Winther confirmed that Ellison had met with Gunn and Safran while Gunn was filming the upcoming David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult-starring Man of Tomorrow.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Winther shared, "He came to Trilith [Studios] already. That's where we shoot all our movies that James directs. He came to Atlanta, we showed him everything, and we're having discussions with him. He's pretty open to what we're doing. We do have a slate and a lot of it — obviously, 'Clayface' is already coming out. We already have the 'Lanterns' TV show. On those things, the train's left the station. So we're good. But he's a big fan, he's been great with us. He's giving us kind of what we want. So far, everything's good."

Late last year, fans on social media wondered if Gunn was trying to send a message about the uncertainty of his future with WBD as merger news grew. During an interview with BobaTalks in October 2025, Gunn discussed how important the storyline details in Superman and Peacemaker Season 2 will be in leading into and impacting Lanterns, Man of Tomorrow, and the rest of the DCU moving forward. "If I s– Yes, they definitely go significantly further than 'Man of Tomorrow.' So, now, whether or not that'll be me that's able to fulfill that promise [laughs] depends on a lot of things in life, but yeah," Gunn responded. On its own, it read as if Gunn was taking the approach of not wanting to think too far in advance because you never know what might happen. But in light of ongoing merger/sale talks, Gunn's words (especially his hesitation at the start of his response) led some to believe he was already considering all his options.

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