Geoff Johns Steps Down as DC Chief Creative Officer, Jim Lee to Take Over
by Albert Ching – on Jun 11, 2018 in Comics, Comic News
Geoff Johns has stepped away from his executive position at DC Entertainment to focus on creative projects at Warner Bros. and DC including the Green Lantern Corps film, the company announced on Monday.
Johns has signed an exclusive writer/producer deal with Warner Bros. and DC, and as a result will leave his current job as President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. Jim Lee will take over as DC's Chief Creative Officer, while remaining as DC Publisher alongside Dan DiDio, a position they've both held since 2010.
Under his new deal, Johns has launched a new production company called Mad Ghost Productions, and will write the screenplay for Green Lantern Corps, as well as produce. It's specified in DC's announcement that the film will be specifically based on Johns' run on the Green Lantern comic book series, which stretched from 2004 to 2013.
On the publishing side, he'll launch a new DC Comics imprint called "The Killing Zone," dubbed in the press release "a new pop-up slate of comic books," which is set to feature "new and lesser known DC characters and titles." Additionally, Johns will write a new Shazam! comic book series, the first in a decade, and continue on the currently unfolding Doomsday Clock 12-issue series, illustrated by Gary Frank, and the previously announced Three Jokers, illustrated by Jason Fabok.
“I took on a role at DCE because I love the characters and this universe more than anything," Johns said in a statement. "But, I want to spend my days writing and on set. I’m thrilled to get back to a more hands-on creative role. It’s a dream job on dream projects, reaching even deeper into DC’s vast pantheon of characters."