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A recent article by Variety about James Gunn and the DCU is raising eyebrows
DC fans are criticizing Variety’s assessment of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s tenure, pointing to Lanterns’ audience numbers as evidence that the report understates their success. Some have even gone as far as suggesting it’s a paid hit piece from the Skydance regime.
The article, headlined “DC Studios Exit: James Gunn and Peter Safran Spent Big, Lost Money and Didn’t Hook Audiences,” examines the pair’s departure following the Skydance takeover.
DC fans are skeptical of a recent Variety article that attempts to frame James Gunn’s reign as DC Studios boss as an abject failure
Its assessment of HBO’s Lanterns has drawn particular scrutiny, as it cited an alleged insider who said the series “isn’t quite capturing the zeitgeist” and pointed to the absence of a second-season renewal as evidence of that.
“Didn’t capture the zeitgeist” https://t.co/m1NEgd19nm
— Sethy (Digger Pilled) (@Brizksie) November 11, 2026
The criticism from fans centers on whether that mixed record justifies portraying the entire operation as failing to attract an audience, particularly when Lanterns delivered substantial viewership and audience engagement.
“Apparently Lanterns, the 5th most watched show in the history of HBO, btw, ‘didn’t quite capture the zeitgeist.’ They’re not just a–holes, they’re completely stupid,” the most viral reaction to the article read.
A tasteless business mogul who produces stuff that barely qualifies as functional white noise while you’re doing house chores with the TV on thinks he has the rights to say about cultural zeitgeist, what a pathetic and insecure human being you are David Ellison. https://t.co/ILABw4q1ER
— Ocam (@GhostlyOcam) November 11, 2026
You can tell this is a hit piece because they say Lanterns didn’t capture an audience as if it wasn’t one of the top 5 most watched HBO shows lmao
— Joe (@hzjoe03) November 11, 2026
variety writing that james gunn didn’t hook audiences is crazy, how much did they pay you to post this crap lol
— leesi (@LeesiBB) November 10, 2026
According to ratings reports, Lanterns averaged 19.3 million viewers globally, placing it among the top five HBO series launches in platform history. The finale attracted 10.5 million global viewers in its first three days, including 7.2 million in the United States. Its worldwide audience increased 13% over the premiere’s equivalent three-day window.
The discussion also prompted clarification about the show’s future, with writer and executive producer Christopher Cantwell writing on social media: “Nothing’s cancelled. Calm down.”
The Variety article also pointed to DC Studios’ theatrical releases thus far — Superman, Supergirl and Clayface — citing their differing financial results and questioning the broader franchise’s momentum.
Gunn and Safran are being replaced as DC Studios’ leaders by former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham. The pair will remain involved in some creative projects, including Man of Tomorrow, which is scheduled to release in July.