Xolo Maridueña is officially back as Jaime Reyes. The Blue Beetle star is set to reprise his role in James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow, which serves as the character’s reintroduction to the DCU. The movie is currently in production and is set to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.
The confirmation comes shortly after online rumors that Maridueña had been spotted on set, and it caps off nearly three years of waiting. Gunn said back in 2023 that Blue Beetle was technically the first DCU character, even though the film itself was released under the previous DC regime. Since then, fans have wondered when and where Jaime Reyes would actually resurface. Man of Tomorrow is the answer.
A Long Time Coming
The 2023 Blue Beetle film starred Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, a recent college graduate who bonds with an ancient alien scarab that grants him a sentient suit of armor. Despite positive reviews and strong support from Latino audiences, the film grossed $130.8 million worldwide during a rough theatrical window shaped by dual Hollywood strikes.
Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran confirmed early on that both the character and Maridueña would carry forward into the new universe. Maridueña has spent the years since publicly expressing his readiness to return, telling interviewers he had no reason to doubt Gunn’s word. That patience is now paying off.
The Canon Question
Jaime’s arrival raises the continuity question that follows every DCEU holdover. The good news for Blue Beetle is that the 2023 film never made overt references to the Snyder-era universe, which makes it far easier to slot into DCU canon than something like The Flash. Expect an approach similar to the Peacemaker Season 2 retcon, which quietly rewrote that show’s DCEU connections to fit the new universe.
A Stacked Roster
Maridueña joins an ensemble that includes David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Lars Eidinger as Brainiac, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and Adria Arjona in an undisclosed role. Gunn writes and directs, with Safran producing.
This is also not the end of the road for Jaime Reyes. A Blue Beetle animated series featuring Maridueña has been in development for two years, positioning Man of Tomorrow as the launchpad for a much bigger DCU future.
Man of Tomorrow opens July 9, 2027.
Sources: TheWrap | Variety | GeekFreaksPodcast.com
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