The first official trailer of DC’s Blue Beetle has finally been released to the public, and for the fans, it is now more exciting than ever as it is DCU’s first solo film featuring a Latino superhero. As seen in the trailer, an ancient artifact known as the scarab chooses Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) as its host. The Scarab fuses itself to Jaime’s spine and bestows him with a suit of blue armor capable of all sorts of extraordinary powers. From then on, Jaime decides to use his newfound powers as Blue Beetle to protect his hometown, Palmera City.
Even though the DCU film is still a few months away, most fans are already looking forward to what cinematic opportunities Blue Beetle will introduce once it is already out there, such as the introduction of more Hispanic and Latinx superheroes in the DCU. At a trailer launch Q&A last week via LRM Online, film director Angel Manuel Soto was asked if they have any plans to throw more Latino superheroes on the screen like Jessica Cruz given the history between the Blue Beetle and Green Lantern. “My answer is going to be yes. And that’s all I can say… But yes, I don’t want to get in trouble, man.” he said.
Soto continued, “Actually, to that end… If you’ll help us and this movie becomes a massive fucking hit, we’re gonna see a lot of those. That’s what needs to happen. If we want to see more variety, and really celebrate differences, celebrate culture, celebrate other worlds. Because it’s fun. The only way is by supporting movies, right? Supporting a movie like this, because it’s, I said it before and I say it all the time, and you’re right, maybe it’s the Latino humbleness. I’m not sure of that or whatever, but this is not about me. This is not about Xolo. I don’t really care about me. What I care about is opening doors. In a world where people really crave taking people down, and I made them feel like all that bullshit, supporting each other is the only way we can tell different stories.”
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With some superhero outings struggling to receive a good reception, whether from Marvel or DC, especially from DC, fans have a bigger role to play in supporting the kind of movies they wish to see more of in the future. The director emphasized that seeing the movie is supporting the vision you want to be translated on screen. In other words, seeing Blue Beetle, DC's first onscreen Latino superhero, may, in retrospect, pave the way for more Latinx characters.
“Not all of them are going to be perfect, but they’re going to exist. Being able to see other kids watch this movie or watch other movies and see themselves represented and say like, man, I want to tell a story about my community. And then that kid becomes an amazing writer. And then we’re going to see all those characters that you want to see because I want to see them too. I want to support that vision. But the only way is showing them that people want to see that. Let’s party.” Soto concluded.
Blue Beetle opens in theaters on August 18, 2023.
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