Blue Beetle is set to be the first story in the new DC Universe. The film’s star, Xolo Maridueña, teases that the movie won’t be about a high-stakes alien invasion, but rather a personal story everyone can relate to.
Superhero films are often criticized for being a hollow spectacle and not much else. However, it seems as though Blue Beetle is set to stand out from the pack. During a recent interview, Xolo Maridueña, who plays Jaime Reyes in the project, revealed that the first project in the new DCU reboot won’t have the highest stakes in the world, but it will focus on the heart at the core of the Reyes family:
“We aren’t dealing with an alien invasion that’s going to take over the whole world, or a monster that’s going to destroy the city,” Maridueña told MovieMaker. “This is a movie about issues that not only Jaime faces, but the whole Reyes family, and greater Palmera City. All of us can relate to their struggle.”
There are a million ways for a film to connect with an audience. However, this new DCU film seems to take an approach not many superhero films have before in focusing on the economic insecurity of Jaime Reyes and his family throughout the film, which Xolo Maridueña says is a theme he heavily connected with:
“That was something that I really connected with as someone who is constantly having to work a little bit harder for the same thing as some of my acting counterparts,” Maridueña continued. “Exploring this family that really deserves more was such a pleasure. Hopefully we highlight some real issues people face.”
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.
Blue Beetle is currently scheduled to hit theaters on August 18, 2023. Stay tuned for the latest news surrounding the film.
