Blue Beetlesurvived the recent cancelation streakof DC Films and DC TV projects at Warner Bros. Discovery; however, it did send director Angel Manuel Soto under stress at the time. After the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery, David Zaslav canceledBatgirlandWonder Twins, leaving the status ofBlue Beetlehanging. However, it was revealed shortly after that the film was still in the works, but, it turns out, the whole process did get everyone worried.
Recently, Angel Manuel Soto and lead actor Xolo Maridueña gave an interview toNPR, discussingBlue Beetle. Soto admitted that he felt concerned for his film afterBatgirlwas canceled. The director also said there was fear at first, but the studio assured him thatBlue Beetlehad full support and executives were still keeping the film greenlit.
I’m not going to lie. There was concern, anger, fear at first. They told me not to worry; the film has their full support.
Blue Beetlewas initially announced as an HBO Max special but was later considered and confirmed for a theatrical release. Xolo Maridueña stars as Jamie Reyes, who is grafted to the alien Blue Beetle scarab, giving him a superpowered exosuit. The film marks the character’s first live-action appearance, and the film’s story will findroots in the character’s Mexican-American heritage.
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Xolo Maridueña Answers the Character’s Comparisons to Iron Man
The duo also answered comparisons of Blue Beetle and the character’s powers to Iron Man and fellow DC character Green Lantern. Actor Xolo Maridueña described Jamie Reyes’ newfound powers as a fusion of these two characters, given that he has an exoskeleton suit while getting his powers from an ancient relic.
He’s a first-generation Mexican-American kid from El Paso, Texas. He’s kind of like a fusion of Green Lantern and Iron Man. He has a scarab from outer space that is attached to his body called Khaji da.
In the same interview,Blue Beetlewriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer further described thatBlue Beetlewould be somewhat of a family affair as Reyes’ new powers will bring unprecedented changes into his family members’ lives.
What would my mom do if an alien technology burrowed into my spine? She would not think it’s cool. And for the Reyes family, this is terrible. ‘We’re going to get attention from American institutions, from the government, from military, from the police.
It looks likeBlue Beetlewill draw similar attention from the American authorities as Superman did during theMan of Steel. If the military gets involved, it would be lovely to see familiar faces from Zack Snyder’s early DCEU movies in the movie, such as Christina Wren’s Major Farris and Harry Lennix’s Clavin Swanwick - who later was revealed to be J’onn J’onzz aka Martian Manhunter.
Blue Beetleis slated to release on July 18, 2025. The film will supposedly be added to the newly announced ten-year plan for the franchise, ushering in a new era of superheroes in DC’s live-action cinematic continuity. The film was the last in DCEU’s release slate but will now be preceded byAquaman and The Lost Kingdom.
