In a recent Twitter interaction, the spotlight was once again on James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran. Addressing a claim about the rumored voice cameo of Ben Affleck’s Batman in Blue Beetle, Gunn was quick to set the record straight.
A Twitter user voiced certainty that James Gunn and his fellow co-CEO, Peter Safran, had cut a Ben Affleck Batman voice cameo from the Blue Beetle movie. But Gunn, never one to shy away from addressing speculations head-on, swiftly debunked the claim. His response was clear: “I’ve never heard of a Ben Affleck voice cameo in [Blue] Beetle, nor has Peter [Safran], much less cut one.”
Looking ahead in the DC film lineup, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is currently slated to hit theaters on December 20, 2023. If Ben Affleck doesn’t make an appearance in the Jason Momoa sequel, it seems The Flash would mark his final portrayal of the Dark Knight.
Over the weekend, Blue Beetle debuted with a tally of $25.4 million in North America. When combined with its international earnings, an additional $18 million from 63 different markets, the global opening stands at a somewhat underwhelming $43 million.
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has confirmed that Xolo Maridueña’s Jaime Reyes and a handful of other characters from Blue Beetle will continue within the canon of the DCU. Although this film was made under the previous regime, Gunn’s confirmation regarding the future of these characters bodes well for future stories. After all, a Booster Gold series was announced as part of DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, and given that character’s ties to both Ted Kord and Jaime Reyes, it looks possible that we will see those three interact together sometime in the future.
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.
The full cast of Blue Beetle also includes Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Trujillo, Susan Sarandon and Harvey Guillén.
