DC’s new boss has a “grandma test” for movies — and fans think R-rated films like Clayface are done

Big changes are afoot at DC Studios, and fans have clocked it already. Jeremy Latcham – the bloke who played a key role at Marvel back in the day – is stepping in as DC's new boss from 1 December. But before he’s even taken his seat, an old interview’s resurfaced and everyone online is drawing their own conclusions about where DC is heading. Short version: the “R-rated” years might be over.

Meet the New Boss

Latcham comes on board after James Gunn and Peter Safran packed their bags and left, ending their stint as DC Studios’ co-heads. It’s David Ellison from Skydance who’s brought Latcham over, putting him in charge of everything – the films, TV, animation, the whole creative vision. Some industry folks reckon he’s just a stopgap, but the debate’s already raging about whether DC is about to become a lot less dark, and a lot more family-friendly.

That Grandma Interview

Here’s where things get properly internet: a video interview from Latcham’s Marvel days started doing the rounds this week. In it, he explains the internal “test” he used to decide if a film would hit with a broader audience.

Speaking to CBN, Jeremy Latcham described his thought process: “I don’t know if my grandma would like that, you know?” He called this the real test for whether a film would play for people outside the Hollywood bubble, referencing his grandmother in Oklahoma and how she’d enjoyed the theme of redemption in Iron Man.

That one phrase – “Would my grandma like this?” – sent DC circles into meltdown across X (formerly Twitter). Fans and critics alike are convinced it’s a sign: say goodbye to R-rated projects, say hello to films you can watch with your nan (whether your nan wants to or not).

• Several fans reckon the Gunn era’s 'edgy' stuff is dead. One moaned “RIP Peacemaker and anything rated R.”
• Another joked we’ll “never get another Clayface-style horror film because this guy’s grandma wouldn’t want to see it.”
• Not everyone’s upset: someone else said “give us something hopeful and wholesome”, arguing that the dark and gritty superhero trend is long past its sell-by.

Backroom Rumours and Industry Hints

According to Cosmic Book News, insiders say an “R-rated DCU” under Latcham isn’t on the cards. That said, he apparently isn’t completely against the idea of tackling an R-rated project if it’s a proper event film – think more blockbuster, less HBO Max experiment. There’s even talk of Skydance trying to mirror the prestige and scope of recent hits like Nolan's The Odyssey or Dune, rather than pumping out endless TV spin-offs.

The official line from Skydance? Their first shareholder letter went heavy on Superman and Batman as core, family-friendly brands, likening them to the MCU’s Spider-Man films. There’s little patience left for the Gunn era’s grittier material, which peaked on HBO Max with projects like the two R-rated seasons of Peacemaker. For those keeping track: the big HBO Max show Lanterns just wrapped Season 1 in October, but HBO’s own Casey Bloys has confirmed there’s no movement on a second season.

Jeremy Latcham will officially take the reins of DC Studios on 1 December 2026.