I hope you're hanging onto your HBO Max subscriptions, superhero fans, because Warner Bros. and DC Films' Blue Beetle will reportedly release on the celebrated streaming service. According to a new report from the L.A. Times, HBO Max's future is in flux following the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery. Like DC Films' Batgirl – which is also set to debut on HBO Max – Blue Beetle is being approached as a middle-budget affair. This makes it a perfect fit for HBO Max as the studio plans to pack the streamer with more attractive and exclusive content. As of the moment, Blue Beetle does not have a release date.
Blue Beetle, which will be DC's first film to center on a Latino superhero, is written by Miss Bala and the upcoming Scarface reboot scribe, Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings) is set to direct.
According to DC's ever-changing continuity, Jaime Reyes is the third character to assume the mantle of the Blue Beetle after Dan Garret and Ted Kord. Created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers, and Cully Hamner, Jaime Reyes happened upon the Blue Beetle scarab while walking home from school with two of his best friends, Paco and Brenda. After bringing the strange object home for further inspection, the mysterious item sprang to life and attached itself to the base of Reyes' spine. As a result, Reyes gained control of a temperamental suit of extraterrestrial armor that has the ability to grant its wearer enhanced speed and strength. As a bonus to the unique suit, the Blue Beetle armor can create weapons, shields, and wings out of its otherworldly materials.
Also on the horizon for HBO Max is a film revolving around the fan-favorite DC superhero Static Shock. Warner Bros. is reportedly developing the film with producer Michael B. Jordan. "I'm proud to be a part of building a new universe centered around black superheroes; our community deserves that," said Jordan in a statement. "Outlier Society is committed to bringing to life diverse comic book content across all platforms and we are excited to partner with Reggie and Warner Bros on this initial step."
First appearing in Static #1 via the now-defunct Milestone Comics, Virgil Hawkins was an ordinary teenager who gained the ability to harness electromagnetism after contact with a dangerous chemical. Static also took the lead in a very popular animated series that aired from 2000 to 2004 and went on to appear in episodes of Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice.
Blue Beetle would certainly be a major boon to HBO Max's lineup, though I must admit that I was looking forward to seeing this one on the big screen. Who knows? Maybe the film will perform like gangbusters and Reyes will get bumped to a bigger venue in the future. Either way, I wish this project nothing but the best. After all, DC is made up of much more than bats, jokers, and aliens with x-ray vision.