DC's Blue Beetle Movie Makes Headway With Director Angel Manuel Soto

A film centered on Blue Beetle is reportedly in the works, with Angel Manuel Soto set to direct.

By Aeron Mer Eclarinal Updated:
DC Blue Beetle

It's been no secret that DC has a stockpile of in-development projects waiting to be released, and the list has become longer and longer as the years have passed. One of the films that is long overdue is a Blue Beetle feature.

Originally announced back in 2018 , Blue Beetle will reportedly focus on Jaime Reyes, the third Scarab-infused hero from DC Comics. The character was heavily featured in the fan-favorite Young Justice animated series, and his jump towards live-action will serve as a notable moment for the teenage hero.

Details about the film are scarce ever since it was reported back in 2018, but a new confirmation has emerged, seemingly giving life to the project once and for all.

BLUE BEETLE MOVIE FOUND ITS DIRECTOR

The Wrap shared in a report that C harm City Kings director Angel Manuel Soto will serve as the director of Blue Beetle , with a screenplay that will be written by Mexican-born writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. Dunnet-Alcocer previously wrote Universal's Scarface and Sony's Miss Bala .

Alongside the report, Soto shared an official statement, expressing his excitement to “make history” by introducing the character in a live-action setting.

“It is an honor to direct Blue Beetle, the first Latino superhero film for DC. I want to sincerely thank everyone at Warner Bros. and DC for trusting me to bring Jaime Reyes to life. I can’t wait to make history together.”

The film will reportedly start production this Fall, with Zev Foreman serving as the executive producer.

Variety first reported that a Blue Beetle film was in the works from DC and Warner Bros., and it will revolve around Jaime Reyes instead of Ted Kord.

A LIVE-ACTION YOUNG JUSTICE FOR THE DCEU?

The arrival of Jaime Reyes (finally) in live-action could present numerous exciting possibilities for the franchise's future. The popularity of the character rose after the impressive character arc of Reyes in the animated realm of DC from Young Justice , and this could hint that Warner Bros. is creating a big move by integrating the character in the DCEU.

In the pages of DC Comics, there were multiple versions of Blue Beetle, but Reyes' iteration was the most recognizable due to the character's ties to the Teen Titans, and later, the Outsiders of Young Justice . It will be interesting to find out if the upcoming film will be solely created as a standalone project, or connections to other facets of the DCEU will be included.

By showcasing the film as a standalone feature, it will no doubt provide a great opportunity to do a deep dive into the origins of the character. This could mainly focus on the struggles of being a teenage hero, ultimately leading to more sequels down the line.

On the flip side, connecting the film to the larger universe could tease the introduction of the live-action version of Young Justice , marking Reyes as the foundation of the superhero team. Given that the multiverse is the main focus of DC moving forward, it's possible that the Blue Beetle film will be set in an alternate universe, thus paving the way for a fresh narrative.

Whatever the case, Blue Beetle's introduction is a welcome sight for DC fans.

- In This Article: Blue Beetle
Release Date
August 18, 2023
Platform
Theaters
Actors
George Lopez
Susan Sarandon
- About The Author: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
Aeron is a news/features writer and Content Lead for The Direct who has been working for the site since March 2020. From writing about the inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to having an extended knowledge about DC TV's Arrowverse, Aeron's expertise has since expanded into the realm of reality TV, K-drama, animated, and live-action shows from Netflix,  Disney+, Prime Video, MGM+, Peacock, Paramount+, and Max. When he isn't writing and watching all things MCU, Aeron is heavily invested with the NBA (go Celtics!) and occasionally watches thrilling matches in the WWE.