If you missed DC’s Blue Beetle in theaters, next week is your chance to own the movie on digital platforms! “Own your legacy, own your power, own BLUE BEETLE on Digital 9/26!” reads a post on the social media platform formally known as Twitter. While Blue Beetle only snagged $120 million worldwide in box office receipts, it’s still the most well-received DCEU movie of 2023. If you’re into numbers, Blue Beetle maintains a 78% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Flash holding fast to 63%, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods hanging its head in last place with 49%.
“As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab,” reads the official Blue Beetle synopsis. “When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.”
In addition to Xolo Maridueña, Blue Beetle also stars Adriana Barraza (Rambo: Last Blood) as Jaime’s grandmother, Nana, Damían Alcázar (Narcos: Mexico) as his father, Elpidia Carrillo (Mayans M.C.) as his mother, Bruna Marquezine (God Save the King) as Jenny Kord, Raoul Max Trujillo (Sicario) as Carapax, with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking) as Victoria Kord, and George Lopez (Rio) as Jaime’s Uncle Rudy. The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (American Horror Stories) as Jaime’s sister, Milagro, and Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) as Dr. Sanchez. Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings) directed Blue Beetle from a Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala) screenplay.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in August, Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto expressed his relief that Jaime Reyes has a future in the DCU despite the film’s mid-level box office performance.
“Yeah, that was for sure one of the elements of relief. It’s the fact that all of this effort was not going to die during this regime change,” Ángel Manuel Soto told THR. “We survived regime changes throughout this whole process, and that was a testament to the hard work that everybody put into it. There’s also a belief in our characters, who are now going to be part of this new DC universe, especially Xolo’s character and his whole family and Bruna Marquezine’s character. So, knowing that they are going to continue to move forward in the DCU allowed me to feel relief for myself and for them. It’s a testament to the amount of heart and talent that they have.”
Are you excited about Blue Beetle coming to digital platforms on September 26? Speaking as someone who wanted to see the film in theaters but could not find the time, I’m eager to check it out in my living room, where popcorn flows like wine and Hendrick’s Gin comes in three delicious flavors.