Aisaka Taiga
- Although Xolo Maridueña is returning as Blue Beetle in Man of Tomorrow, DC Studios has clarified that the character's previous film is not part of the new DC Universe continuity.
- That seemed like a fair guess, especially because the 2023 movie told its own self-contained tale, without leaning too much on connections to other DCEU properties.
- Fans are asking why the full Blue Beetle movie didn’t get the same treatment.
Although Xolo Maridueña is returning as Blue Beetle in Man of Tomorrow, DC Studios has clarified that the character's previous film is not part of the new DC Universe continuity.
DC Studios has now officially clarified a key point about Blue Beetle's role in the new DC Universe: he will still exist in James Gunn's DCU, but his 2023 standalone feature is not canon. The news has raised eyebrows about the studio’s commitment to continuity, especially since Xolo Maridueña is set to reprise Jaime Reyes in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow.
When James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, Blue Beetle seemed like one of the characters safe from the transition from the previous DC Extended Universe. Gunn had previously shown interest in the character and said Maridueña will have a future in the franchise. Many fans assumed the original film would also be included in the new continuity.
That seemed like a fair guess, especially because the 2023 movie told its own self-contained tale, without leaning too much on connections to other DCEU properties.
The film featured Jaime Reyes as a teenage superhero who discovers an extraterrestrial technology scarab that turns him into Blue Beetle. The story’s self-contained nature made it relatively easy to see it fitting into the new DCU. But DC Studios has now drawn a line between keeping the character and keeping his original film heritage.
The big takeaway is that Jaime Reyes will stick around in the DCU, but the events of his 2023 movie won't immediately cross over. This lets the character return with Maridueña in the next part without necessarily carrying over all the relationships, story arcs, or developments from the last film. Fans have been critical of the decision, feeling that the original movie could have been included in the new continuity without too much difficulty.
Some fans wonder why DC Studios would want to leave the character from his known introduction, especially since the movie was mostly self-contained. There’s also a seeming discrepancy in how the new DCU deals with its ties to previous ventures. Gunn has taken over elements from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1 into his new continuity, making certain characters and events relevant.
Fans are asking why the full Blue Beetle movie didn’t get the same treatment.
Even with the choice to keep things continuous, Blue Beetle isn’t fading from DC’s plans. With Maridueña’s reappearance in Man of Tomorrow, the character has a chance to make his mark on the burgeoning superhero universe. There’s also been talk of an animated Blue Beetle series; however, whether it ties into the live-action DCU is still very much up in the air.
Fans looking for a sequel to the original film may also be disappointed, as there's no official confirmation of a Blue Beetle 2. The decision ultimately creates a weird scenario for the character. They want to keep Jaime Reyes but remove his original movie story from the new universe's canon. It remains to be seen whether Gunn will eventually introduce aspects like Ted Kord to the franchise.
For fans of the original movie, however, its standing in the continuity might not matter. Even if its events are no longer legally part of the DCU, Blue Beetle is still a noteworthy superhero picture.
