Is James Gunn’s DCU safe — even though Gunn himself questioned if he would be there following the release of Man of Tomorrow in 2027?
According to a new report from Bloomberg, David Ellison’s plan for Warner Bros. Discovery’s merger with Paramount is to consolidate marketing, distribution, and streaming operations while claiming the creative teams at both companies will remain intact.
However, that same report follows Bloomberg and other outlets detailing massive changes at Paramount that include layoffs — and, you guessed it, creative-team shake-ups.
Paramount and Warner Bros. Merger Details
According to Bloomberg, David Ellison, the 42-year-old CEO of Paramount and Skydance, wants to keep the creative teams from both studios intact while merging marketing and distribution. Ellison also plans to combine Warner Bros.’ HBO Max with Paramount+, creating a single streaming platform with an expanded film and TV library:
David Ellison, chief executive officer and controlling shareholder of Paramount, wants to keep the creative teams of the two studios, while consolidating some of the marketing and distribution, according to people familiar with his plans.
No decisions have been made about whether Paramount would part with either company’s real estate, including two of the most famous studio lots in Hollywood, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.
The merger would allow Ellison to showcase more projects and build a stronger subscription base, sources told the outlet.
The report adds that there are no plans to sell or spin off the companies’ cable networks, such as MTV, CNN, or Turner Broadcasting, and Paramount’s CBS News could begin sharing resources with Warner Bros.’ CNN news division.
Ellison reportedly wants to leverage AI technology to help produce more films and shows — with a goal of 30 movies a year between the two studios — and reaffirmed his belief in theatrical releases as the best way to build long-term franchises.
DC and James Gunn Missing From the Report
Bloomberg’s story makes no mention of DC Studios, Superman, or James Gunn’s leadership — only that Ellison wants to keep the creative teams of the two studios intact at Paramount and Warner Bros.
As we’ve gone over, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy run Warner Bros. Pictures at WBD. Gunn’s DC Studios is separate and answers directly to CEO David Zaslav. Again, what does it say when the head of DC Studios openly admits he doesn’t know his future — yet he’s the only one with Zaslav’s ear?
For a merger that will completely reshape Warner Bros.’ film division, the absence of DC is striking. Sources have told me that Gunn’s future is uncertain and that his DCU plans are effectively on hold pending the sale.
If Ellison intends to “keep creative teams,” it’s unclear whether Gunn’s DC Studios would even qualify. Recent Warner Bros. projects like Superman and Peacemaker Season 2 have been divisive, reportedly underperformed financially, and lost audience interest — not a strong position for a studio head entering a merger.
What could happen is that Gunn’s DC Studios gets folded into Warner Bros. Pictures, led by De Luca and Abdy, which lines up with what I’ve heard. The question is whether De Luca would want to keep Gunn, since Gunn effectively went above De Luca to form his own DC division — a move that, as I’ve reported, canceled De Luca’s plan to continue the Snyder Verse.
Layoffs and Restructuring Underway
Regarding the changes at Paramount, Bloomberg reports that Paramount completed its merger with Ellison’s Skydance Media in August and will announce 1,000 layoffs this week as part of the restructuring.
That’s the first wave of cost-cutting, with further consolidation likely if the Warner Bros. deal finalizes. Bloomberg also notes that Disney’s 2019 acquisition of Fox led to massive layoffs and a reduction in theatrical output.
And despite Ellison’s insistence that creative teams will remain intact, that notion already appears shaky: Taylor Sheridan, the powerhouse creator behind Yellowstone and multiple Paramount+ hits, has recently jumped ship to NBCUniversal, ending his deal with Paramount altogether.
If Paramount is already slashing staff and losing its biggest showrunner, the idea that nothing will change at Warner Bros. once the merger closes seems highly unrealistic.
