Now that James Gunn and Peter Safran are steering DC's film output, the remaining Extended Universe outings can seem like dead ends shunted out more because they exist (except for tax write-off victim Batgirl and the other cancelled outings) rather than any feeling of excitement or future planning. But Blue Beetle, which was originally intended for HBO Max is still headed to cinemas, and the first trailer is online.
Starring Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña, the film brings the Jaime Reyes version of the story, this looks to be a blend of other superhero films Iron Man and Spider-Man, both of which it predates in comic form (the Blue Beetle concept has existed since the 1940s) with just a dash of Spy Kids. But with luck, it can carve out its own identity on the screen.
Reyes here is a college grad who 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 it 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 Blue Beetle… whether he wants to or not.
Angel Manuel Soto directs here, and the cast also includes Adriana Barraza, Damían Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo and Susan Sarandon. Blue Beetle will be out on 18 August.