James Gunn confirmed Blue Beetle is NOT part of the current DCEU

The Blue Beetle is the DCU’s first character, but not the first DCU movie.

In a time where superhero movies are at an all-high with not-so-great numbers, DC is blasting us into a new era, helmed by the dynamic duo Peter Safran and James Gunn – DC Studios’ new co-Chairmen and CEOs.

Though their arrival has led to the shelving or perpetual limbo of some anticipated projects, the DC Universe is hardly starved for action. Case in point: the highly anticipated film Blue Beetle, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, is not only surviving but thriving in this reimagined universe.

How does Blue Beetle fit into the DCU?

It was originally presumed that The Flash would kick-start Gunn’s reimagined universe, especially after Gunn’s confirmation during the DC Universe slate announcement that it would be a reset for the franchise. However, with The Flash now out and more or less affirmed as a footnote in the DCEU movie saga rather than the DCU’s foundation, this assumption has been turned upside down, leaving us all somewhat puzzled about the franchise’s trajectory.

What does this mean for upcoming films like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Blue Beetle? Will they represent the last vestiges of the DCEU, or are they the stepping stones into the new DCU? The fog is lifting on at least half of that question, thanks to James Gunn.

While speaking to Michael Rosenbaum on his Inside Of You podcast, Gunn confirmed that Blue Beetle has secured a spot in the DCU. “I mean, the first DCU character for sure is Blue Beetle and the first DCU movie is Superman.”

What does that mean? Well, it means there is come confusion about what franchise the film will belong to, but now that The Flash has reset everything going forward, this would suggest that every character we meet going forward is officially now part of the DC Universe. And thankfully for Blue Beetle himself, this includes him. But if Superman: Legacy is the first DCU film, do we consider Blue Beetle DCEU?

The movie’s director, Angel Manuel Soto also confidently discussed the character’s future with the DCU, sharing with Total Film magazine:

"“We are part of the universe, we are part of the world, we are part of the plans that they have been creating for the future installments of the DCU.”"

But before you get too concerned about needing to brush up on a decade of DC film lore, Soto reassured us:

"“But we are not tied to all the films from the past. Yes, our movie lives in the world where superheroes exist. But that doesn’t mean that a certain event, or certain alliance, or certain things from the past dictate where our film is going.”"

That will result in a sigh of relief for newcomers to the franchise, for sure.

The leading man in Blue Beetle is none other than the Cobra Kai breakout star Xolo Maridueña, stepping into the shoes (or rather, the suit) of Jaime Reyes. He’s your regular guy-next-door who stumbles upon superpowers when an alien Blue Beetle scarab decides to make him its host.

And if you’re already getting hooked on the concept, we’ve got some great news for you. Soto isn’t just planning a one-and-done. He’s got an entire trilogy in mind, revealing that the way they approached the first movie “was always with the mentality that we wanted to do two more, at least.” Soto explained: “And taking the traditional three-act structure of a story, we wanted our first movie to practically be the first act of a saga.”

Blue Beetle is hitting theaters on August 18, armed with an impressive cast, including Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, and George Lopez. And adding a dash of pop music royalty to the mix, Becky G voices Khaji-Da, the entity that controls the scarab.

And in the mean time, we should all get ready for a new age of superhero storytelling. The DC Universe as we know it is evolving, and Blue Beetle is part of what comes next.

Are you looking forward to Blue Beetle?