Written By Kieran Bugg • U.K. Editor
Xolo Maridueña‘s Blue Beetle will be a part of DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn‘s plans moving forward. However, the film won’t be canon. At this point, moviegoers might need a manual how to understand the transition from director Zack Snyder‘s DCEU to Gunn’s reboot.
When it comes to DC Studios, you really don’t know what to believe anymore. One moment it’s announced that Wonder Woman 3 starring Gal Gadot has been cancelled and then the next moment the actress claims that the sequel is still happening.
Moreover, it was even suggested that it will be a reboot rather than a sequel which would establish Gal Gadot as the DCU’s Wonder Woman. Unsurprisingly this added even more confusion to what exactly Gunn and his partner Peter Safran have planned for the future of the franchise.
Nonetheless, Gadot’s comments were seemingly debunked by sources at the company. Anonymous insiders? Hardly. It’s highly likely Gunn torpedoed Gadot’s claims himself, shielding himself from public scorn by hiding behind his laptop. After all, Gunn warned fans not to believe any news about the DCU unless it’s directly from him.
On the other hand, at this point it feels like no one, not even those in charge of DC Studios, have a clear idea of what’s going on.
Xolo Maridueña Remains As Blue Beetle Even If $125 Million Movie Flops
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery
This has led many to believe that all this will have a negative effect on their next theatrical release, Blue Beetle.
Furthermore, conflicting reports have left many of us questioning where the movie stands in terms of canon. Will it be set in the old DCEU or the new DCU?
With Gunn’s own Superman: Legacy being called the first movie in the DCU’s timeline, it seems like Blue Beetle falls into the former’s continuity. So where does this leave actor Xolo Maridueña and his portrayal of the titular teenage superhero? There have been many arguments from those who’ve worked on the film that have said it’s not been decided yet.
In addition, James Gunn has gone back and forth on whether or not Xolo Maridueña’s take on Jaimie Reyes will live on in his DCU.
In the end, it all depends on its critical and commercial success.
Netflix’ Cobra Kai turned Xolo Maridueña into a promising young star. In fact, if hugely successful, Blue Beetle could propel Xolo Maridueña into the next Tom Holland. Alas, thus far it’s not looking that way. Xolo Maridueña’s DC debut is only tracking for an opening weekend between $22 million to $32 tmillion.
However, in a recent social media post, it’s seems that James Gunn is currently leaning towards Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle having a future in the DCU.
Bomb or not.
If it flops, it won’t be Xolo Maridueña’s fault.
Xolo Maridueña Remains As Blue Beetle Even If $125 Million Movie Flops
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery
The DCEU choked after Snyder’s departure. Recent projects such as Birds of Prey, Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam!: Fury of the Gods, and The Flash all crashed and burned. Warner Bros. Discovery execs wish they could’ve pulled in Snyder’s hundreds of millions for Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Could Blue Beetle break the downward trend? Even if it doesn’t, Xolo Maridueña is here to stay.
Attending a screening for Blue Beetle, Gunn posted a picture of himself with Safran and wrote:
“At the Blue Beetle screening with my partner Peter Safran! I can’t wait for audiences to meet Jaime Reyes, who will be an amazing part of the DCU going forward!”
This does seem like a clear confirmation but with Gunn’s recent habit of backtracking it’s best to wait and see what unfolds.