In an era where superhero movies constantly vie for the top spot, Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle debut has achieved an impressive milestone. The actor’s first cinematic solo outing as the DC Comics hero is now certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, boasting a commendable Tomatometer score of 81%.
The significance of this achievement becomes even more evident when considering what’s been happening in the DC Universe. The last DCU movie to attain such a distinction was 2021’s The Suicide Squad. While Matt Reeves’ The Batman also achieved a Certified Fresh rating with a score of 85%, it’s important to note that it’s set outside the main DCU continuity.
The Critics Consensus offers insights into the film’s acclaim. “Led by Xolo Maridueña’s magnetic performance in the title role, Blue Beetle is a refreshingly family-focused superhero movie with plenty of humor and heart.”
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.
