The Blue Beetle movie didn't receive the memo about superhero film secrecy. Blue Beetle star Xolo Maridueña and director Angel Manuel Soto spoiled a main character's death before the movie ever had a chance to hit theaters.
Perhaps not as highly anticipated as The Flash or James Gunn's upcoming Superman: Legacy, Blue Beetle is still an important part of the DC canon. The film is the comic book character's first live-action endeavor and will feature the third and current Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes. The teenager uses the Blue Beetle scarab to create a suit reminiscent of the Power Rangers and goes on to join the Teen Titans. Though not the most well-known Titan of the bunch, Blue Beetle may be more important to DC's future than fans realize.
The Blue Beetle movie will reportedly dive into Jaime's heritage, which actor Xolo Maridueña mentioned when he hinted at a main character's. “Damián Alcázar, the actor who plays my father, was so generous and wise and calm,” Maridueña explained to MovieMaker Magazine. “I remember thinking it felt ethereal for Jaime to see his father, but it was just his soul. It wasn’t his body.”
Maridueña doesn’t reveal what happens to Jaime's father, Alberto, but does explain that his character goes into the afterlife to see his father’s spirit. This was important to the actor because the element was reminiscent of the Mexican film Macario. The movie was released in the 1960s and is regarded as the pinnacle of Mexican filmmaking. One shot of the titular character visiting the realm of Death is echoed in Blue Beetle when Jaime visits his deceased father. Soto explained they wanted to pay homage to a formative movie in Mexican culture.
This could be the type of content that could save DC. Gunn's entrance as the head of DC Studios is a step in the right direction, but DC still needs an extensive makeover. Even though Gunn changed The Flash ending, it did nothing for the brand, and revisiting Superman lore seems like a safe decision. Focusing on a lesser-known superhero and an underrepresented perspective could be the way for DC to outdo Marvel. Or, at the very least, catch up to it.
Though the reveal of Alberto's death is a huge spoiler, it may help DC in the long run. Publicizing Maridueña's interview with this information shows that the film respects and focuses on cultures that have not been at the forefront. And it inspires confidence that Blue Beetle will be something fans haven’t seen yet.
Blue Beetle will premiere in theaters on August 18, 2023
Source: MovieMaker Magazine