'Superman 2' Officially Bringing Back DC Superhero After Short-Lived DCEU Stint

‘Superman 2’ Officially Bringing Back DC Superhero After Short-Lived DCEU Stint

Man of Tomorrow, the follow-up to Superman, is less than a year away. What many originally believed to be a straightforward Superman and Lex Luthor team-up film against Brainiac is quickly evolving into a larger DCU epic. The film will see the return of Justice Gang heroes like Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl, as well as DCU characters Supergirl and John Stewart. Now another DC hero is joining the fray, one who was originally intended to be part of the DCEU but later became the DCU’s first unofficial superhero.

Xolo Maridueña is reportedly set to reprise his role as Jamie Reyes / Blue Beetle in Man of Tomorrow, according to The Wrap. Maridueña previously played Blue Beetle in the film of the same name, which opened in theaters on August 18, 2023, and was directed by Ángel Manuel Soto. Warner Bros., DC Studios, and Maridueña have not commented on the story.

Blue Beetle was originally intended to be an HBO Max Original film and part of the previous shared universe, the DCEU. While Warner Bros. scrapped a completed Batgirl movie, it upgraded Blue Beetle to a theatrical release. Although Blue Beetle was made for the previous DC regime, after James Gunn took over DC Studios and began crafting the DCU, he said Blue Beetle would be “the first DCU character,” with Superman being the first DCU film. That leaves the Blue Beetle film’s place in the official DCU timeline up in the air.

Since then, Gunn has slowly planted seeds for Blue Beetle in his new DCU. Jamie Reyes Blue Beetle appeared in a vision of a post-apocalyptic future in Creature Commandos Season 1. In 2024, it was confirmed that a Blue Beetle animated series set within the DCU was in development, with Maridueña set to voice the character. Rumors have circulated that Ted Kord, Jaime Reyes’ Blue Beetle predecessor, could play a role in the planned DCU series Booster Gold.

After the box-office disappointment of Supergirl, expectations for Man of Tomorrow are even higher. Many are wondering if the film can be successful enough to continue James Gunn’s epic 10-year plans for the DCU. Bringing in both Blue Beetle and John Stewart’s Green Lantern into a film featuring Brainiac and possibly the alien warlord Maxima suggests that Man of Tomorrow will be a story more cosmic in scope than Superman. Blue Beetle’s involvement in Man of Tomorrow is an exciting setup for the future of the DCU.