DC finally dropped the Blue Beetle trailer, but unlike Black Adam and Shazam 2, new information suggests fans might not be wasting their time getting attached to Jaime Reyes, as the character is set to be part of James Gunn's DC Universe plans.
Since Gunn took over DC Studios at Warner Bros. Discovery, many changes have unfolded, including the dismissal of beloved superhero figures like Henry Cavill's Superman. While The Flash has long been believed to be the only piece from the DCEU moving forward, there might be some surprises. After all, given Shazam! Fury of the Gods' box office failure and the worrying circumstances for Aquaman 2, there’s a lot of concern about what could await the relatively unknown Blue Beetle.
Fret not, as Deadline's sources claim that Blue Beetle “will be incorporated in the universe being developed by new DC bosses Peter Safran and James Gunn." While that may be far from a certainty at this stage, it would bring Xolo Maridueña on par with the likes of Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, whose role likewise remains unclear. Blue Beetle pays off the character's Latin American heritage; However, the report does not specify if any other Blue Beetle cast members would also make it into the DC Universe's roster.
So what is it that makes Jaime Reyes so unique? Despite being created in 1939, the Latino Blue Beetle known today only became prominent in 2006. Reyes and his predecessor Ted Kord share a long history with Booster Gold, one of Gunn's chosen DC projects. Early reactions to the Blue Beetle trailer give it credit for its lighthearted tone, albeit some criticism was hurled towards its special effects.
It bears saying that Blue Beetle shares one thing with Shazam 2 and the canceled Batgirl movie, that being a lower budget by modern superhero standards, said to be in the region of $120 million. That number alone will take some weight off Blue Beetle's shoulders, but it must be said not even a low budget could help Shazam 2 turn a profit for the studio.
Although the overall landscape at DC for Blue Beetle is still less than ideal, the prospect of Jaime Reyes having a future does make his situation far better than Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, a movie that many fans don’t see much reason to watch.
Blue Beetle is scheduled to premiere on August 18, 2023.
Source: Deadline
