One of the bright spots of the theatrical DC footprint was 2023’s Blue Beetle, which introduced actor Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes. Even though the film arrived after James Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as the co-CEOs of DC Studios and the DCEU, as fans knew it would be changing, Blue Beetle was revealed to be a part of that new direction. Moreover, Maridueña would be reprising his superhero role. A part of that future is still in the works, and the Cobra Kai actor says he’s excited to continue his journey in the role.
During an interview with Hablemos de Cine, Maridueña revealed what it meant to him to continue what he started in 2023’s Blue Beetle with the new animated series from DC Studios. The actor said:
“There’s only one Blue Beetle. I’m so excited to get to continue the story of Jaime is an honor and I just can’t wait to see where the heck he goes. It’s still so early, but I just know it’s about to be the next craziest anime.”
The Blue Beetle series was first announced earlier this year as a project by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios. Miguel Pera serves as the director and showrunner of the series, while Cristian Martinez is on board as the series writer. Angel Manual Soto, who directed the 2023 film, and Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, who served as the film’s screenwriter, remain involved as executive producers alongside John Rikard. Lastly, Galen Vaisman, who was an executive producer on the film, will be overseeing the animated project for DC Studios. As it stands now, it does look like a solid mix of new talent and the core group of creatives that helped shape Blue Beetle’s arrival on the big screen.
Blue Beetle Was a Critical Success for DC Studios
Blue Beetle served as the 14th film of the DCEU and starred Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, a college graduate who finds himself worthy of the armor that bestows him with super abilities after accidentally being chosen by an alien relic called the Scarab.
The movie went on to become one of the better-reviewed films of the DCEU, earning a 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and receiving praise for Maridueña’s portrayal of the titular character as well as the performances of its ensemble cast. The film also stars Adrianna Barraza, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, Damián Alcázar, and George Lopez.
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Despite the film’s critical success, it was considered an underperformer at the box office, grossing $131 million globally on a budget that reportedly ranged from $103-125 million. Reasons for its subdued box office performance were placed squarely on the SAG and WGA strikes, with the former preventing its stars from properly promoting the film, and Warner Bros. announcing the reboot of the DCEU into the DC Universe (DCU), ahead of the movie’s release. Blue Beetle did go on to find success once it debuted on Max, where it became the most streamed film on the platform.
