Abstract
- Blue Beetle units up a possible reunion between Jaime Reyes and Ted Kord within the sequel, because the post-credits scene hinted at Ted’s return.
- References to Superman and Batman in Blue Beetle point out their existence within the DC Universe and their function in future movies.
- Teases of Deathstroke, Cyborg, and The Attain trace at potential team-ups and crossovers with different DC characters sooner or later.
Warning: Incorporates SPOILERS for Blue Beetle!
Blue Beetle could also be a self-contained story with out particular ties to a wider shared universe, however it does doubtlessly arrange an entire host of superheroes and villains who might seem later in James Gunn’s new DCU. The superhero-action film follows Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña), a regulation graduate from Palmera Metropolis, Texas who by accident assumes management of a high-tech scarab beetle (Khaji-Da) that varieties a symbiotic relationship with its host. Chosen by the Scarab, Jaime turns into the omnipotent Blue Beetle, hunted by Kord Industries CEO Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon), who needs the Scarab to create her personal weapons.
With James Gunn and firm asserting plans for the brand new DC Universe, it was initially unsure whether or not Jaime Reyes would have a DC Universe future. This query has been cleared up with Gunn clarifying that, whereas the DCU will formally kick off together with his Superman: Legacy film slated for a 2025 launch, Blue Beetle is a part of the DCU and shall be its first official character. As a part of the DC Universe, because of this Blue Beetle has the potential to arrange a lot of superheroes and villains for future DCU motion pictures and exhibits. Here is a group of all these arrange within the movie.
9 Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle
Ted Kord would not seem in particular person in Blue Beetle however is referenced a number of occasions by daughter Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine) and sister Victoria. Previously, Ted was CEO of Kord Industries earlier than being changed sister, who holds resentment in the direction of him, livid that their father gave Kord Industries to her “irresponsible” brother first. Within the comics, Ted Kord was the second Blue Beetle and benefactor to Jaime Reyes, which makes the film’s selection to not embrace him an fascinating determination. Nonetheless, it actually gave extra space for Jaime to discover his id as a hero and for Jenny and Victoria to carve themselves out an area as fully-realized, compelling characters.
First showing in comics again in 1966, Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle inherited the Scarab from mentor Dan Garrett however was by no means in a position to activate it. As an alternative, Ted constructed his personal high-tech go well with to change into a crime-fighting hero. When a comic book e-book Jaime Reyes approaches him as the brand new Blue Beetle, Ted creates a cellular command heart for him and returns to heroism as Jaime’s companion. Seeing because the ending of Blue Beetle left viewers on a significant cliffhanger and the Blue Beetle post-credits scene confirmed Ted Kord alive after his disappearance, it is seemingly he’ll return in Blue Beetle 2 to reunite with Jenny and mentor Jaime.
8 Superman
Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto revealed that the movie would come with references honoring the Man of Metal, however it seems solely two transient nods made the reduce. In a fast line whereas reworking into the Blue Beetle and realizing he can fly, Jaime is in comparison with Superman and exclaims he could not be, he is no Superman. Moreover, Rudy (George Lopez), mentions Superman as he explains which metropolis totally different Superheroes are based mostly out of.
Whereas the movie’s ending appears to lean extra in the direction of Jaime’s acceptance of his new function, it additionally units up the DCU’s latest Superman. With The Flash organising the DCU’s Multiverse, it is unclear which Superman Blue Beetle refers to, however it offers Gunn’s new tackle Superman a transparent street to run down. The 2025 film will recast Henry Cavill as Superman with 30-year-old David Corenswet, who shall be joined by a number of different DC superheroes in Superman: Legacy.
7 Batman
Showing first within the trailer, Batman is referenced 3 times all through Blue Beetle. Within the trailer, Uncle Rudy calls Batman a fascist in a line hilariously befitting of his character. There are two different fast references as nicely: first, when Jaime explores Ted Kord’s Beetle Nest and compares his utility belt to Bruce Wayne’s devices, and second when a Spanish-speaking broadcast mentions Bruce Wayne within the background of Jaime regaining consciousness following his first spherical within the beetle exosuit.
6 The Flash
The Flash makes up the ultimate reference to the Justice League staff in Blue Beetle, talked about in a fleeting remark about being the protector of Central Metropolis. The remark is available in a scene that means Jaime might nicely change into an identical protector of his personal city, rounding off the movie’s message concerning the significance of household and heritage.
A field workplace catastrophe for DC, The Flash marked the tip of the DCEU – and a colossal flop for the franchise. Whereas Blue Beetle‘s passing reference to The Flash may very well be a touch that Ezra Miller’s superhero will stay quietly off-screen someplace in Central Metropolis, it may be a touch that his character shall be again sooner or later. Gunn and DC Studios companion Peter Safran have each been tight-lipped on Miller’s ongoing authorized points, delivering a noncommittal, “We’re simply gonna have to attend and see” (by way of AP Leisure).
5 Deathstroke
Victoria Kord, scientific mastermind and power-hungry inventor, offers a couple of speeches about her work all through Blue Beetle. Considered one of these mentions Promethium. Based mostly on an actual factor, DC’s Promethium is a man-made alloy created by Dayton Industries and based mostly on the Greek fantasy of Prometheus. The event started with the intention of making indestructible automobiles to scale back crash-related deaths earlier than it turned a purpose to have an effect on whole organic regeneration. The comics reveal that the alloy produces infinite power that can be utilized to advertise bodily restore of injured natural tissue. Nonetheless, it rapidly turned a instrument to create a few of DC’s most diabolical weapons.
Slade Wilson, higher often known as Deathstroke, is a ruthless murderer usually combating the Justice League and Teen Titans. He is appeared in Titans, Justice League, and Arrow, however Deathstroke has been cropping up in DC media for years. His mesh armor and sword are each product of Risky Promethium, an exaggerated depiction of real-life uranium. With the existence of Promethium confirmed for the DCU and a cryptic almost-confirmation from Gunn, Deathstroke might nicely make one other display screen look.
4 Cyborg
Promethium can be behind Cyborg’s creation, a starring character of Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go! Victor Stone was experimented on by his scientist mother and father as a baby, and later, to save lots of his life following an incursion with a monster from an alternate dimension, his father used Promethium to graft experimental prostheses onto his physique. Following a harrowing exploration of his new id, Victor finally realizes the potential for good together with his new powers and later joins the Teen Titans earlier than turning into a member of the Justice League of America.
Following Ray Fisher’s portrayal in Justice League, the actor publicly accused director Joss Whedon of a hostile set and vowed by no means to work with DC Movies head Walter Hamada once more. Nonetheless, seeing as Gunn has changed Hamada, it is unclear what future Cyborg may have within the DCU, however contemplating his expansive display screen credit and Blue Beetle‘s reference to Promethium, it is a risk that he might return.
3 The Attain
In an interview with Leisure Weekly, director Soto confirmed that Blue Beetle has been given a future within the DCU and continued, “Let’s have a look at if we find yourself beating up The Attain at one level.” A race of interstellar conquerors, The Attain journey between planets enslaving native species. Contemplating the present growth of Lanterns, a brand new Inexperienced Lantern collection starring DC’s best-known lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart, Blue Beetle may very well be laying the groundwork for a team-up between Jaime and the Lanterns.
Within the comics, each Blue Beetle and the Inexperienced Lantern Corps work together with The Attain. The Lanterns signed a peace treaty with them after an historical battle, however it’s this that evokes the creation of the insidious Scarabs. In Blue Beetle, the Scarab bonds with Jaime giving him superhuman powers, however within the comics, The Attain use these Scarabs to reprogram the person and power the host to betray their species, easing the colonization by The Attain. The connection would definitely make for an efficient set-up to a Inexperienced Lantern x Blue Beetle crossover sooner or later DCU.
2 Lex Luthor
In two references – one passing and one very intelligent – Lex Luthor seems in Blue Beetle. The obvious is in a skyline shot of Palmera Metropolis that clearly exhibits a tower marked LexCorp, the constructing and firm owned by Superman’s rival Lex Luthor. The second is a a lot subtler reference for eagle-eyed followers. The burger field that Jaime hides the Scarab in when smuggling it out of Kord Industries is marked Massive Stomach Burger, a quick meals chain that reoccurs always in DC Comics. Most curiously, it is canonically a subsidiary of LexCorp.
1 The Joker
Only a few towers over on the skyline from LexCorp is Ace Chemical compounds. A extremely poisonous chemical manufacturing plant, Ace Chemical compounds’ headquarters is in Gotham Metropolis, however the firm clearly has separate branches constructed elsewhere. Within the comics, the will-be Joker falls right into a chemical vat within the manufacturing unit and is reborn together with his characteristically white pores and skin and inexperienced hair. Later, after he’s damaged out of Arkham Asylum by psychiatry intern Harleen Quinzel, he takes her to Ace Chemical compounds, the place they dive into the identical vat collectively and she or he is reworked into DC villain (and occasional anti-hero) Harley Quinn.
In Birds of Prey, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) destroys Ace Chemical compounds after her break-up with The Joker (Jared Leto). Regardless of being the very best a part of the Leto as Joker saga, Robbie’s Harley Quinn and the remainder of the Birds of Prey have not been confirmed for the DCU, and it is unclear whether or not they’ll return. In the meantime, although Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker has a sequel greenlit for 2024 co-starring Girl Gaga. He’ll stay part of DC’s Elseworlds banner and never be part of the DCU as Blue Beetle is predicted to be.
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