Warner Bros. is developing aBlue Beetlestandalone that will serve as their first Latino-led DC superhero movie. For years we’ve been hearing that Booster Gold was going to team up with the character for a movie set within the DC universe, but that never came to fruition. Now, as the studio has been making big changes behind the scenes, they’re taking a very different approach toBlue Beetle, which adds some diversity to their slate of comic book projects currently in development.
According to a new report, Mexican-born screenwriterGareth Dunnet-Alcocerhas been hired to pen the script forBlue Beetle, which will center on the Jaime Reyes version of the character.Jaime Reyesis the third person in the comics to hold the title. Previously, Dan Garrett and Ted Kord held the mantle, with Reyes being introduced in 2006 in the world of DC Comics. This particular version of the character was created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers, and Cully Hamner and was introduced during the publisher’sInfinite Crisisstoryline. He later was given a solo series in May of that year.
As for Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, he previously penned a draft of the long-gestatingScarfaceremake, as well as Sony’s upcoming American remake ofMiss Bala, which stars Gina Rodriguez and hits theaters next year. He’ll be adapting the story of Jaime Reyes, a Mexican-American teenager who gains his powers afterdiscovering a strange scarabon the way home from school, which attaches itself to him, granting him armor, enhanced speed, weapons and wings. Reyes then assumes the mantle of theBlue Beetle, battling foes on Earth and in space. This is significant because it will be the first DC movie to feature a Latino character in the lead role. While movies likeSuicide Squadprominently featured Latino characters, they weren’t the main focus.
This comes as part of anever-evolving slate at DC Films. Following the release ofJustice Leaguelast year, which served as a critical and commercial disappointment, Warner Bros. started to rethink their strategy. Many of the projects that were in development were tabled and the studio has been taking more of a one movie at a time approach, as opposed to building out a massive universe and announcing a giant slate of movies. They’re no longer putting the cart before the horse.
Warner Bros. is also working on movies not connected to the same universe asWonder Womanand the upcomingAquaman, like theJokerorigin movie that stars Joaquin Phoenix as the famed DC villain. While it seems likely thatBlue Beetlewould at leasttangentially be connected to the larger DC universe, it’s possible that this could be envisioned as something that stands on its own. Currently, there is no word on who may direct, nor is there any casting information or a timeline on when the movie could begin filming. We’ll be sure to keep you posted as any further details on the project are made available. This news was first reported byThe Wrap.
