Blue Beetle Director Has Big Plans For The Character's Future
As Blue Beetle takes center stage, the director steering the superhero movie unveils his significant aspirations for the character, delving into his vision and approach for pushing boundaries.
DC's Blue Beetle introduces the origin tale of Jaime Reyes, a recent college graduate who becomes entwined with an advanced scarab, morphing into a high-tech exoskeleton with captivating abilities and potent extraterrestrial weaponry. This cinematic endeavor was masterminded by the dedicated and skilled Angel Manuel Soto, who initially proposed a film centered around the iconic Batman villain Bane before seizing the opportunity to lead Blue Beetle. Jaime, akin to Bane, is a beloved Latino comic book figure, and Soto's efforts brought him to the forefront as the lead in a live-action superhero film.
Despite concluding filming, the Blue Beetle director demonstrates an unwavering commitment to Jaime's journey, even envisioning multiple potential sequels. In response to queries about a potential trilogy during an interview with Yahoo, Soto affirms, "I don't think I would be here talking with you if I didn't think that way." He goes on to emphasize the synergy between the movie's success and the prospects of continuing the narrative, likening it to how James Gunn mentioned that fans would determine Blue Beetle's fate in the DC Universe. "The way the machine works, the first movie needs to make money for them to put more money in, but for us, we've always seen it that way," Soto explains.
While early forecasts initially hinted at Blue Beetle potentially joining the ranks of DC and Warner Bros Discovery box office underperformers, positive reviews from early viewers and enthusiastic support from the Latino community might just spark increased interest in theaters. The project's appeal also stems from the genuine and positive attitude exhibited by the director and the lead actor towards the film's essence. Soto expresses their attachment, stating, "We love the story so much. We believe in the product so much. We believe in an actor so much. We couldn't help but think about where his journey was going to go while we were creating this film. So, is it wish fulfillment? Are we calling it out to the universe? Sure."
Amidst the concluding phase of previous DC films under the Snyderverse banner, which didn't thrive at the box office, uncertainties surround Gunn's fresh DCU slate, despite the apparent distinction between the two. While Blue Beetle's potential to salvage the remnants of the DCEU remains uncertain, it emanates a more positive vibe, underpinned by a universally relatable family dynamic that some of the franchise's recent installments lacked.
Nonetheless, Blue Beetle bears substantial stakes, intertwined with the legacy of the DCEU, public interest in Aquaman 2, the likelihood of sequels, and even the character's role in the new DCU—all hinging on the movie's performance. This unfolds during a period of waning fan enthusiasm for the genre and a context where actors face challenges in promoting projects. The unfolding of these heightened expectations remains a story yet to be written.