Ever since James Gunn and Peter Safran took the helm at DC Studios, expectations have been sky-high, and for good reason. The duo arrived with a plan, a slate of ambitious projects, and a fanbase desperate for stability after years of uneven results. When Superman landed to strong reviews, the dark days were declared over with confidence.

The costume was comic-accurate; the superhero did not have his mustache digitally removed, and there was no squinting required to see what was happening on the screen. It was in every sense a fresh start.

But is James Gunn’s DC reboot really all roses? Here are the thorns that stand out for fans.

James Gunn’s first DC outing came before he and Peter Safran ever took charge of the studio, but it set an uneasy precedent. The Suicide Squad grossed a little over $168 million worldwide against a reported $185 million budget, a result that fell short of the mark. While some may consider it a cult classic, the numbers told a different story.

Now the film is back in the conversation. On the podcast The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon?, Gunn said Harley Quinn will almost certainly find her way into the DCU.

“No Superpowers or Metahumans” — James Gunn Explains Why the Reevesverse Doesn’t Play in the DCU, Yet Again

More importantly, he said he would bend over backwards to make Margot Robbie’s version fit, if she wants the role again.

Timing was never DC Studios’ strongest suit. James Gunn and Peter Safran unveiled their new slate while Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Blue Beetle, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and other DCEU projects were still waiting in line for release. The result was a franchise left in limbo, with audiences unsure whether those films mattered or were already a closed chapter.

Henry Cavill’s fans arguably took the news the hardest. The actor had only recently suited up again as Superman in Black Adam after an extended absence from DC, sparking hopes that the cape would stay on him. The new slate had other plans.

Even a Superman could not outrun the politics at Warner Bros. Superman & Lois had earned a loyal following and steady ratings, yet its fourth season would be its last. According to CW president Brad Schwartz, the call came from Warner Bros., which did not want a competing Superman product in the marketplace once the new film arrived.

For fans of Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch, the logic stung. A show that had quietly kept the Man of Steel’s legacy alive was cleared away to make room for the big-screen version of the same hero.

Strong reviews do not always translate into record-breaking receipts, and Superman is proof. The film earned about $618 million worldwide, a healthy sum by most standards but not enough to overtake Man of Steel’s roughly $668 million gross.

For a studio hoping to launch an entire universe on the back of its flagship hero, falling short of its predecessor stings. While the numbers may not have exceeded those of the earlier film, the new Superman did excel where the earlier one stumbled: in critical acclaim.

The momentum behind the new DCU has not carried through its latest releases. Supergirl arrived in theaters this summer with a worldwide opening of roughly $68 million, well short of expectations, and wrapped its run at about $126 million against a reported budget of around $170 million.

Clayface followed with a worldwide opening of around $43 million, lower than Supergirl’s start. Two projects in quick succession opening below hopes make it harder to ignore the pattern, and they leave a nagging question of whether audiences are still buying into the wider universe.

When a studio has to host a podcast to explain its own continuity, the confusion has likely gone beyond a few passing questions. Between a rocky box office run, a slate announced over unfinished projects, and fan favorites left in limbo, doubt has steadily piled up around the DCU. James Gunn’s answer was to take the question to the fans directly, sitting down on a podcast titled, The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon?, with cast members to sort out what counts as canon and what doesn’t. It is a transparent move, but it also hints at a larger problem.

A universe built to feel cohesive should not need a guide to keep track of it, and the thorns raise bigger questions about where DC goes from here.

“Ready for a Fight”– David Corenswet Teases Practical New Upgrade in James Gunn’s ‘Man of Tomorrow’

What do you think about James Gunn's DC Reboot? Let us know in the comments.