Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
The DCEU is all set to end with its final phase of films before making way for James Gunn’s DCU. AfterThe Flash,Blue Beetleis gearing up for release. The film stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, a teenager who gets the responsibility of hosting the Scarab, an armor that turns him into Blue Beetle, a superhero.
Most fans remember Blue Beetle from the acclaimed animated showYoung Justice. The character is all set to make his big-screen debut. However, there is one aspect that made theYoung Justiceiteration of the character so much better.
Also read:Does James Gunn Even Want Blue Beetle to Succeed? Zack Snyder, Who isn’t Even in DCU Anymore, Has More Enthusiasm Than Gunn for Xolo Maridueña Movie
Jaime Reyes And The Blue Beetle
Xolo Maridueña’sBlue Beetlewill be the character’s big cinematic debut. While DCU CEO James Gunn has not taken extra effort to promote the film, he has mentioned that Maridueña’s James Reyes will be the first character in his new shared cinematic universe. While the DCU itself will begin with the Gunn-directedSuperman: Legacy, Blue Beetle is one of the characters who will carry over from the DCEU.
So, who is Blue Beetle? Earlier iterations of the character saw the superhero as a crime-fighting police officer who gains superpowers through ingesting Vitamins as well as mystic abilities from an ancient Egyptian entity called the Scarab. The most recent and the most popular iteration of the character is Jaime Reyes, a Mexican teenager who is tasked with hosting the Scarab, which is an alien technology that gives Reyes superpowers. Reyes is played by Xolo Maridueña in the new film.
TheBlue Beetlefilm is set to follow the origins of Reyes as he graduates college and moves back to his hometown. The main antagonist will be Victoria Kord, who is after the Scarab and will clash with Maridueña’s Jaime Reyes.
Also read:“DCU is still trying to copy MCU, nothing has changed at WB”: After ‘The Shazaam’ Disaster, Early Reviews For Xolo Maridueña’s ‘Blue Beetle’ Sparks Concern Among DC Fans
How Is Xolo Maridueña’s Jaime Reyes Different From Other Iterations?
Reyes has made many appearances in different media, with the most popular depiction being in the animated seriesYoung Justice. InYoung Justice, the Scarab, the alien technology that grants Reyes superpowers has a separate voice that acts as a guiding light and often makes decisions. The Scarab is severed from The Reach, the creators of the Scarab, and has its own autonomy.
The Scarab’s chemistry with Reyes is one of the highlights of the show, with many praising the different personality voice actor Eric Lopez gives to the Scarab. The clash of their personalities also adds to the conflict within Jaime as he works with the Team, a group of young superheroes who are part of the Justice League.
Also read:‘Blue Beetle’ Xolo Maridueña Struggles to Hold Back Tears After He Becomes the First Latino DC Superhero in a Wholesome Viral Video
Xolo Maridueña’sBlue Beetlealso takes the decision of giving a voice to the Scarab. In the live-action adaptation, the Scarab or Khadi-Ja is voiced by singer and actress Becky G. The treatment the film gives is more akin to an AI being who controls the suit. It seems similar to that of J.A.R.V.I.S or F.R.I.D.A.Y, which are Tony Stark’s AI control systems in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
From the trailers, Becky G’s portrayal of the Scarab seems to be more robotic and devoid of personality. The banter and conflicting personalities of Eric Lopez’s portrayal made the character of Jaime Reyes so endearing and it seems to be missing from the live-action film. This marks yet another possible misfire from the DCEU.
Also read:“I want to do 12 more years of Blue Beetle”: Xolo Maridueña Has Big Plans For His DCU Superhero Debut Despite Lacklustre Box Office Predictions
Source:CBR
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2416
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
