Xolo Maridueña is set to rock the world in just a few days when he makes his debut as the first DC Universe hero in Blue Beetle. A new post by James Gunn teases much more of his Jaime Reyes is yet to come.
Blue Beetle has had an uphill battle given the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike and The Flash flopping as a fresh start to the DC Universe. However, the passion of fans in the #BlueBeetleBattalion have revived passion around Xolo Maridueña’s debut as Jaime Reyes. According to DC Studios co-chair James Gunn via a post on his Instagram, this film is only the beginning:
Blue Beetle isn’t the first time Jaime Reyes has been the center of a DC Universe, with Batman: The Brave and The Bold centering him in their animated universe. However, the fact that James Gunn is so committed to Xolo Maridueña’s role in DC Studios even before the film’s release promises a bright future for diversity at DC Studios, in no small part to the love of the #BlueBeetleBattalion!
Who is DC’s Blue Beetle?
Blue Beetle is one of DC’s lesser-known heroes, but he has a dedicated fanbase nonetheless. Created in 1939 by Charles Wojtkowski, Blue Beetle has gone through several iterations over the years. The Jaime Reyes version of the character was introduced during the events of 2006’s Infinite Crisis and quickly became a fan-favorite.
In the pages of DC Comics, Jaime Reyes is a teenager from El Paso, Texas. Jaime discovers a scarab beetle-shaped device that bonds with his body, giving him access to an advanced suit of armor and various powers. He becomes the latest in a long line of Blue Beetles and must learn to balance his newfound abilities with his everyday life.
Angel Manuel Soto is directing Blue Beetle from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. The full cast of the movie also includes Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Trujillo, Susan Sarandon and Harvey Guillén.
