How Family Plays A Major Part In The 2023 DC Films

With the release of DC’s “Blue Beetle“, a common theme emerges amongst the 2023 slate of DC movies. No matter what the story is, there is one thing they all have in common that makes each film, an emotional experience, and that is family.

Throughout the DC comics and in the DC Universe, we see characters driven by family or the loss off a loved one. Characters such as Superman and Batman are prime examples of that.

The three major live action DC films that have premiered in 2023, “Shazam! Fury Of The Gods”, “The Flash” and the most recent “Blue Beetle” are deeply rooted in different family drama. Some sweet, and some downright painful.

“Shazam! Fury Of The Gods”

Starring Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu

Speaking to Total Film Director David F. Sandberg said “Fury of the Gods is still Shazam’s movie, but it’s also about the family. The story is very much about Billy being afraid of losing this family.” Four years after they got their superpowers, Billy Batson and his “Shazam” family of foster siblings continue to somewhat so as much saving as they can, only to cause more destruction.

“In the movie, Shazam, he’s trying to keep the family together, but everyone’s doing their own thing. They haven’t really learned how to work together and especially Freddy Freeman. He just wants… ‘Yeah, I’m going to be a superhero on my own. Why do we have to do everything together?’ The movie is about them having to learn to work together and be a superhero team.”

When a new very real threat emerges, they band together and use their strengths against the villains of the story who are also a family unit, the daughters of the Titan Atlas. With Billy’s foster mom finding out he was Shazam and them finally becoming a proper family in the end there is no shortage of sweet moments in the film.

 

“The Flash”

Starring Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle

The driving force behind The Flash is the loss of his mother and how his father was sent to prison. Apart from all the battles, chases and explosions, the real quest in this film is simply a story of a boy wanting to be with his mother. In this film Barry decides to travel to the past to prevent his mother’s murder, this leads to an alternate reality, without superheroes. Speaking to MovieMaker Andy Muschietti talked about how important the emotional core of the movie was

“It was essential to me to create a strong emotional foundation. The story already implied a child wants to reunite with his dead mother. That emotional core is very valuable. My pitch to the studio was I want to make the movie’s heart very big. I want to magnify the emotional aspects of this movie.”

Once Barry reverts the timeline with the help of Keaton’s Batman and Supergirl, it helps him come to terms with his mother Nora’s death. With is another theme you see addressed in the film aside from loss, and that is acceptance.

 

“Blue Beetle”

Starring Xolo Mariduena, Bruna Marquezine, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez

It’s all about family in Palmera City! Family means everything to Jaime Reyes aka Blue Beetle, the newest addition to The DCU. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Xolo Mariduena said “With this movie, really what we wanted to highlight was Jaime’s story and the Reyes family’s story.” This was the first DC superhero origin story that really gives the heroes family their own time to shine, the first time we don’t see a superhero hiding their powers from their family, or those around them.

“One of the biggest changes from the superhero movies that I’ve seen and loved — and granted, I haven’t seen all of them — but I love that in our story, Jaime gets his powers for the first time in front of his family. I think it helps keep the story so honest and truthful from the get-go. Hiding from mom and dad that I’m Blue Beetle, once that is out of the question, it’s such a fun ride. It’s a journey the whole family can take together.”

Blue Beetle is the DCU’s first Latino hero and he’s got and entire family to back him up as the alien scarab known as Khaji-Da chooses Jaime Reyes to be its symbiotic host, bestowing the teenager with a suit of armor that’s capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny This new superhero movie formula by director Ángel Manuel Soto takes a fun and entertaining spin on the film without the need for cameos, too much humor or the need for a secret identity. However although the film is full of incredible action, badass moments and some comedy, there are some painful scenes as well, and that is when we see Xolo Mariduena really shine as an actor.

Be it Barry Allen trying to save his mother over and over again, Billy Batson finally getting adopted, or Jaime Reyes Read More

Man that one hurt like hell. When it comes to family, each moment serves a purpose, and each one has made for an emotional storyline that grounds each film and makes for an emotional storyline. Also each and every aspect of family that we see in these DC films serves their purpose as an important milestone or a nurturing presence in the lives of these superheroes.

The year’s final DC film premiering on December 20th, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” will most likely see a similar theme as the film will see Arthur Curry (Jadon Momoa) return home in order to save the kingdom of Atlantis.

DC films may receive criticism for a lot of things, but if there’s one thing they know how to do well, it’s a good family arc.