Xolo Maridueña‘s Blue Beetle will be receiving a treatment similar to Peacemaker, according to James Gunn, who reiterated that the character will indeed appear in the new DCU (via Rotten Tomatoes). Considering the movie arrived post-Gunn’s DCU announcement, even though it was one of the last remnants of Zack Snyder‘s DCEU, like Peacemaker, it had barely any direct ties to the now-defunct universe.
This further makes the transition from the DCEU to the DCU very easy for Maridueña’s Jaime Reyes, as Gunn noted:
Peacemaker, there’s hardly anything else that you need to change for him, he can slide very easily into the DCU, same with Blue Beetle. They just kind of fit in very nicely, we just have to retcon a couple of things
It’s also important to note this isn’t the first time Gunn has acknowledged Jaime Reyes’ existence in the DCU, as an animation project is reportedly in the works for the Latino hero (via Deadline).
James Gunn’s Remarks Hint at Blue Beetle’s Future Beyond Animation
Last year, it was reported that a Blue Beetle series was being developed under the new regime, which will continue Reyes’ tale, marking the return of Maridueña. The project further attached Miguel Paga as the showrunner/director, with Cristian Martinez serving as writer.
And given Gunn’s comments regarding Blue Beetle in the recent interview, it appears Maridueña’s live-action jump into the DCU might not be too far, especially with Booster Gold reportedly getting a pilot for HBO Max (via Deadline).
As for the animated title, the Cobra Kai actor previously told Hablemos de Cine that he’s excited to return in the shoes of Reyes, calling the gig an honor.
Considering how smoothly Peacemaker transitioned to the DCU, fans have no reason to worry about how Reyes will fit into this equation.
Blue Beetle‘s Box-Office Numbers Don’t Reflect Its Quality
Like the rest of the pre-DCU movies, including The Flash, Shazam 2, and Aquaman 2, Blue Beetle also dropped the ball at the box office, as opposed to its budget of $120M, the movie only grossed $131M (via Box Office Mojo).
MoviesRT ScoreBox OfficeShazam! Fury of the Gods49%$134 millionThe Flash63%$271 millionBlue Beetle78%$130 millionAquaman and the Lost Kingdom33%$440 million
However, blaming the movie for its underwhelming box-office returns would be severely unfair, given that it got caught in the middle of the awkward transition phase, and the DCU announcement certainly didn’t work in its favor.
A still from Blue Beetle | Credit: Warner Bros.
But beyond its box-office struggles, fans can expect a good old-fashioned superhero story, which doesn’t have the baggage to push forward a larger cinematic universe. With an RT score of 78% and a Metacritic score of 61, it’s arguably one of the better DCEU releases, and it’s a shame it became a victim of DCEU’s struggling run.
On the bright side, with Superman rebuilding the brand among general audiences, hopefully, with goodwill from fans and the Latino community, Reyes will stand tall under the new regime.
Are you excited for Jaime Reyes in the DCU?
Blue Beetle is available to stream on HBO Max (USA).
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