The old DCEU has been a lame duck period for nearly a year now, as DC’s lackluster superhero universe is being rebooted/replaced in just a couple of years for the newDCU, headed by accomplished producer Peter Safran and acclaimed director James Gunn, both now leading the charge to get the struggling company out of Marvel’s long-reaching shadow as Co-CEOs of the rechristened DC Studios.
While fans are glad to leave the failed cinematic universe behind, most have questions about the movies in that universe that are still coming out. It was clear that recent entries likeThe Flashand the upcomingAquaman and the Lost Kingdomare not going to be parts of Gunn’s DCU, but things got muddled around one of the very last movies of the DCEU,Blue Beetle.
We have conflicting reports about the canon status of the movie, from the film’s crew to the company’s execs, and no definitive answer has been given. So we don’t blame you if you’re still confused. Let’s look at DC’sBlue Beetleand determine if the latest film from the old DCEU will be part of Gunn’s new DCU.
Director Soto Says Yes
The film’s director Angel Manuel Soto spoke in aninterview very clearly statingthatBlueBeetleis set to be part of Gunn’s and Safran’s vision for the DCU. “We are part of the universe, we are part of the world, we are part of the plans that they have been creating for the future installments of the DCU,” Soto said about the movie. “But we are not tied to all the films from the past. Yes, our movie lives in the world where superheroes exist. But that doesn’t mean that a certain event, or certain alliance, or certain things from the past dictate where our film is going.”
While no other DC superheroes appeared in the film, there were a few references to other DC superheroes, though none that would directly tie it to the sinking DCEU ship. It makes it clear that there are other super-powered heroes and villains in the world of the film, though it doesn’t clearly state just what world the film is in. Yet according to the director, that world is Gunn’s shiny new reboot…though Gunn himself says otherwise.
Related:Blue Beetle and Sudden Industry Push for Superhero Diversity
CEO Gunn Says No
While the director of the movie thinksBlue Beetleis part of the DCU, the head of the cinematic universe doesn’t. Apparently, Gunn has been trying to clear up the confusion surrounding the canon status of the film, as the DC Co-CEOspoke in an interviewvery clearly stating thatBlue Beetleis actually “not going to be a part” of Gunn’s and Safran’s vision for the DCU.
Some fans were hoping that maybe the film would carry over into the rebooted franchise universe. However, there was never much hope of that, as the defunct DCEU has always been considered a failure, even when it did well, andBlue Beetlehas very low projected box office earnings, and they appear to be just like predicted. Not with Gunn’s confirmation, it’s clear thatBlue Beetleis not a part of the new DCU.
Related:Blue Beetle’s Director Rescued It From A Streaming Debut
Blue Beetle May Still Make It Into the DCU
However, just because the movie didn’t make it, that doesn’t mean that the character won’t. James Gunn recently postedin a tweet, “At the #BlueBeetle screening with my partner Peter Safran! I can’t wait for audiences to meet Jaime Reyes, who will be an amazing part of the DCU going forward!”
The famous filmmaker is well known for responding to fans on his social media, and his answers about his films have proved to be pretty reliable in the past. Gunn has confidently endorsed Xolo Maridueña’s portrayal of the hero Jaime Reyes, setting the stage for his potential returns in upcoming projects in the new DCU, like with the forthcoming film following the flashy fan-favorite hero of the same nameBooster Gold.
So it appears that whileBlue Beetlethe movie will not be part of the DCU, Blue Beetle the character will. And even though there is no real confirmation if that is even true – because the DCU is still years away and plans always change in these things – the DC Universe is undergoing big changes withBlue Beetle.
With minds like Gunn and Safran at the helm of DC and heroes like Jaime Reyes poised to change the way we look at superheroes, fans are on the brink of comic book andsuperhero movie history. And we can’t wait to see where it goes.
Directed by Angel Manuel Soto and starring Xolo Maridueña, George Lopez, and Susan Sarandon,Blue Beetleis now playing in theaters.
