While many recent movie release delays have resulted in many films making a switch from cinema release to streaming, it looks like DC is bucking the trend withBlue Beetlewhich will no longer be an exclusive HBO Max movie but will be coming to the big screen first in 2023. The latest project from Warner Bros. DC lineup was slated to follow theirBatgirlmovie and form part of their exclusive DC package on HBO Max, but thesuperhero movie starring Cobra Kai’s Xolo Mariduenaas Jamiee Reyes will now make its debut in cinemas in August 2023.
The Hollywood Reporterrevealed that the plans for theBlue Beetlemovie, which as one of the lesser-known DC characters heading to screens in the near future, have been significantly changed and the Latino character will be now premiering on the big screen ahead of a move to streaming on the HBO Max platform which has become home to all of Warner Bros. biggest IPs. Along with the announcement came news of some other dates being set by the studio, withThe Last Traingetting an August 15, 2025 release andWizard of OzbasedTotolanding on February 2nd, 2024.
Blue Beetle may not be as well known as some of his fellow DC heroes, and having only been around since 2005, when the character of Jaime Reyes was created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers and Cully Hamner and made his debut inInfinite Crisis #3,it is understandable that he has never been given quite as much attention as some of the older DC catalog. Having said that, the character will be known to some after making appearances in animated form inBatman: The Brave and the Bold, Justice League vs. Teen Titansand more, as well as being played by Jaren Brandt Bartlett in live-action for the final season of hit seriesSmallville.
TheBlue Beetlemovie will be directed by Angel Manuel Soto and back when it was originally announced the movie was said to be part of Warner Bros. cinema releases but was soon put alongsideBatgirlas a streaming exclusive. Now it seems that someone has had a change of heart again and decided to bring the film back into the big screen schedule. How much of that is down to thegrowing number of diverse superhero features from Marvelhaving hit cinemas in 2021, and DC perhaps feeling they are being left behind again is a possibility.
BeforeBlue Beetlewas added to the release schedule, DC already has a massive 2022 schedule withThe Batman, The Flash, Black AdamandAquaman and the Lost Kingdomall making their debuts, but 2023 was looking pretty bare with onlyShazam! Fury of The Godsslated for release in June. While Marvel has a big couple of years ahead as they develop their expanding multiverse in cinemas and on Disney+, it feels like once again DC is playing catch-up with their biggest rival.
