DC Has Already Spoiled The DCU’s First Death Before The Reboot Kicks Off

Blue Beetle confirms the DC Universe‘s first character death two years before Superman: Legacy kickstarts the rebooted franchise. James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe will introduce a brand-new set of superheroes with no connection to the DCEU. Starting with Superman: Legacy, the new franchise will follow icons such as Superman, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific as they interact in a world that’s already acquainted with metahumans.

While Superman: Legacy is the first official movie in the new DC Universe, Blue Beetle is the DCU’s first character, as confirmed by James Gunn himself. This means that Xolo Maridueña’s Jaime Reyes might eventually join David Corenswet’s Superman in the new franchise. Blue Beetle‘s plot may have limited connections to the wider DC Universe in order to allow the franchise to incorporate Jaime Reyes seamlessly, but the fate of those characters who are close to Jaime will likely remain an important part of his story in future appearances. Therefore, an already spoiled death in Blue Beetle marks the first major death in the DC Universe.

Related: Blue Beetle Will Be A Bigger Deal For DC Than You Realize

Blue Beetle Spoils The Death Of Jamie Reyes’ Dad

In an interview with MovieMaker Magazine, director Ángel Manuel Soto reveals that Alberto Reyes’ death is an important part in Jaime Reyes’ personal journey. Soto was inspired to use Alberto’s death as a plot point due to his own father’s death and his admiration for the 1960 Mexican film Macario, which deals with the themes of death, acceptance, and the afterlife. The director teases an emotional scene involving Jaime and his father’s spirit, which is a key part of the Blue Beetle plot. Read the quote below:

Every religion offers respite, or a solution, to the reality of death, and Blue Beetle — spoiler ahead — explores an afterlife that’s astounding and moving. It is inspired in part by one of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa’s shots in the 1960 film Macario — a film I deeply love.

Xolo Maridueña adds that he felt a strong connection to Jaime Reyes’ reaction, saying “I remember thinking it felt ethereal for Jaime to see his father, but it was just his soul. It wasn’t his body” and reveals that in Blue Beetle, “Jaime didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his father.” Alberto Reyes’ death is clearly a defining event in Jaime Reyes’ career as a superhero, and regardless of how the rebooted DC Universe addresses Blue Beetle, Alberto’s death will likely continue to inform Jaime’s journey in the new franchise.

Why Blue Beetle Kills Off Jamie Reyes’ Dad

From Merlin in Arthurian Legend to Uncle Ben in Marvel Comics, the death of the hero’s mentor has been a reliable tool in storytelling for eons. Even though it may sound like a tired cliché, it continues to be an effective way to forge an emotional connection between the protagonist and the viewer, as well as an infallible motivation for the main character to embrace their pain and pursue a heroic journey. Besides, Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto also offers a fresh spin on the narrative trope by infusing it with his own experiences and beliefs:

My dad died of congestive heart failure almost two years ago, and while my grief isn’t as heavy these days, every so often, I have thoughts like the one I woke up to on the day I saw Blue Beetle. On that Los Angeles morning, I thought: “What if I saw dad’s spirit right now in the living room?”

Hence, Alberto Reyes’ death may not only be what motivates Jaime Reyes to be a superhero, but it may also be Blue Beetle‘s main dramatic throughline. Similar to how Krypton’s destruction have made Superman who he is and the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents have defined Batman, Blue Beetle’s journey might be defined by his father’s death. Of course, such an important event needs to retain its relevance once Blue Beetle is fully integrated into the new DC Universe.

Source: MovieMaker Magazine