Written By Kieran Bugg and Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
Blue Beetle could be the DCU’s version of Spider-Man. With rising star Xolo Maridueña, the Blue Beetle film could be looking at the next Tom Holland. Maridueña became a household name with Netflix’ Cobra Kai. Like Holland, Maridueña has the good looks and charm to play an unassuming young superhero.
Certainly, the upbeat tone of the Blue Beetle trailer delivers impossible to unsee Spider-Man vibes, especially the MCU version with Holland. However, don’t call Blue Beetle a Spider-Man knockoff. Artist Steve Ditko, who co-created Spider-Man with writer Stan Lee, worked on the Ted Kord incarnation of Blue Beetle in 1966.
In other words, Spider-Man is in his DNA.
Blue Beetle’s trailer teased a fun-filled, action-packed adventure with the wit and fast-paced action that epitomizes Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man franchise. We doubt this is unintentional. Warner Bros. Discovery wants those Spider-Man dollars Marvel Studios brings to Disney. No doubt this is why the film will be in theaters instead of HBO Max.
Blue Beetle Could Quickly Become DC’s Version Of The Amazing Spider-Man
Image: Sony
The potential is certainly there. No, Blue Beetle will not reach Holland’s Spider-Man movies at the box office. Regardless, WBD would do cartwheels with even a portion of that.
Anticipation for anything new coming from DC is rare nowadays, unless Zack Snyder’s name is attached to it that is. Nonetheless, Blue Beetle is looking to be a standout for fans. Since making his comic-book debut back in 2006, Jaime Reyes has quickly become one of DC’s most popular superheroes.
In addition, he’s also widely regarded by readers as the best character to assume the Blue Beetle mantle. Reyes is the third Blue Beetle with his predecessors being Kord and Dan Garrett. Due to his popularity, Reyes went on to appear in various animated DC TV movies and TV shows. Thus, a DCEU solo adventure for Reyes’ Blue Beetle was officially announced in November 2018.
This will mark the character’s second live-action appearance since his role in the acclaimed CW series, Smallville. Upon the film’s initial announcement, there was little excitement since controversial executive Walter Hamada was running DC at the time.
However, once set photos of Maridueña wearing a comic-accurate armored suit emerged online, anticipation skyrocketed. The trailer didn’t disappoint, either. As much as we would prefer Snyder’s dark visions for DC, Blue Beetle looks and feels like the comic book.
Xolo Maridueña proves he was the perfect choice to play Jaime Reyes. The trailer gave off a similar energy to Spider-Man: Homecoming. In addition, there are obvious riffs on other MCU fare like Iron Man, Ms. Marvel (the family element), and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Given that both movies star a less familiar superhero, it makes sense. Hardcore DC fans may puke at the compilation of the MCU’s Greatest Hits; on the other hand, the marketing is for the wider general public.
From what we see, they’ve completely nailed Reyes’ origin story as well as his abilities while using the Scarab. The Scarab is clearly alien in origin like in the comics with a symbiotic connection with Reyes.
Blue Beetle Could Quickly Become DC’s Version Of The Amazing Spider-Man
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery
The actual suit itself looks like it jumped right off the pages of the comics. Nonetheless, it wasn’t made clear who the main villain of the movie will be. Yet it appears that Susan Sarandon’s character is the most likely candidate. Sarandon portrays the wife of the late Kord. On top of all this, there were a variety of exciting Easter eggs alluding to Blue Beetle’s comic-book lore. During the trailer’s final moment, we see what appears to be Kord’s HQ.
In this secret lair, we can see two spandex costumes clearly resembling both Kord’s and Garrett’s comic-book suits.
A nice touch for DC followers.
Along with the trailer, an official synopsis for Blue Beetle was also released.
It reads:
“Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.”
Blue Beetle probably won’t revolutionize super-hero cinema; on the other hand, it could attract the Spider-Man kids to the choking DC brand.