The past few years have seen DC continuing to establish itself as a force in film and television, both through stand-alone projects and the expansion of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). A number of DC movies and television series have been announced in that time period and are in various stages of development.
One of the projects announced by Warner Bros. and DC is Blue Beetle, a movie starring the titular DC comics superhero that will be released on HBO Max. It was recently announced that Cobra Kai's Xolo Mariduena will be playing the blue Beetle. The film will be directed by Angel Manuel Soto with Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer writing the screenplay. Blue Beetle is set to begin filming in 2022.
But who exactly is the Blue Beetle? While the character is popular among DC fans, he has not yet reached the heights of popularity of characters like Batman or Superman. HBO Max's Blue Beetle will be the first time he's headlined his own live-action or even animated adaptation. For those who are less familiar with the character, here is a rundown of who he is and what he can do.
Blue Beetle is a name held by three different people over the course of DC comics. The original Blue Beetle was a man named Dan Garrett. Initially, he gained powers from a special vitamin, Vitamin 2-X, but this was later altered so that his powers were gained from a "sacred scarab." The second Blue Beetle was named Ted Kord, who jumped to the DC comics universe during the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline. Unlike Dan Garrett, he never had powers, but was a scientist who used his genius intellect to create crime-fighting devices.
The HBO Max movie will be based on the third Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes. Jaime begins as a Mexican-American teenager living a normal life in El Paso, Texas. One day on his way home from school, he discovers the same Blue Beetle Scarab that gave Dan Garrett, the first Blue Beetle, his powers, and takes it home out of interest. That night, the scarab comes alive and grafts itself to the base of Jaime's spine. He is soon found by hero Booster Gold and Batman, who need him to help seek out the all-seeing intelligence satellite Brother Eye, which only the scarab will be able to find. Jaime goes with them into space to help them pull the rogue satellite back into reality.
When the scarab teleports Jaime back home, it uses a dimensional mode of transport, which causes Jaime to return home a year after he had left it. Jaime returns to his family and quickly reveals his identity as the Blue Beetle, explaining his year long absence. From that point on, Jaime attempts to learn more about the scarab, which leads to many conflicts, battles, and encounters with other heroes. Jaime later joins the Teen Titans superhero team. He teams up with them in a conflict with an alien race of intergalactic conquerors called The Reach, after which the Titans invite him to visit and eventually join the group.
The scarab is the source of Jaime's powers. When Jaime is in danger, the scarab activates and generates a high tech suit of resilient armor around his body. The scarab suit has multiple armaments and functions, including an energy cannon, a sword, a grappling hook, blades, a satellite, and wings capable of flight. The suit can neutralize magic, manipulate energy, is capable of translation, and allows Jaime superhuman strength, agility, and protection from hazardous environments. When not activated, the scarab still allows Jaime to perceive extra-dimensional objects, which is why he proved useful to Booster Gold and Batman.
While he has not headlined his own project before, versions of Jaime Reyes can be seen in various DC television shows and movies. He can be seen in season ten of popular live-action series Smallville, as well as in feature roles in animated series' Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Young Justice. Other animated projects he plays a role in include Justice League vs Teen Titans, Justice League Action, and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. Jaime Reyes as Blue Beetle also appears in several DC video games.
HBO Max's Blue Beetle will not only finally be giving Jaime Reyes a starring role, but open up the possibilities for him to appear in other DCEU projects. There are many major DC characters who Blue Beetle interacts with in the comics that are already a part of the DCEU. Jaime interacts with the Green Lantern Corps, who are getting their own television series, also on HBO Max. He spends time alongside Peacemaker, who can currently be seen in The Suicide Squad and will be starring in his own television series as well. If Batman is not included in the film as part of the Blue Beetle origin story, he could still be featured in future projects with him. There are countless crossover possibilities, but for now, the fact that Blue Beetle is getting his own feature film is exciting enough.