Blue Beetle Streams Free on Tubi: DCEU’s Final Hero Gets a Second Chance

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As a die-hard movie enthusiast, let me tell you about my take on the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Compared to Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which is the well-behaved and slightly predictable eldest sibling, and Sony’s Spider-Man universe, the younger, wild child that everyone seems to avoid, DCEU has always felt like the middle child going through an identity crisis.

Starting with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013, the DCEU struggled to reach the same heights as its rival, but still managed to keep Warner Bros. interested. Then, in 2023, James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios with the aim of rebooting the franchise. However, they had one more movie to release first – 2023’s Blue Beetle, which surprisingly turned out to be a hidden gem in the DCEU family.

DC enthusiasts can look forward to watching Blue Beetle for free in June, as it’s the last DCEU film set to debut on Tubi. Directed by Angel Manuel Soto, Blue Beetle features Xolo Maridueña portraying Jaime Reyes, a character from the DCEU who has been underappreciated yet surprisingly poignant. The movie received a respectable 78% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Although this score isn’t something to celebrate loudly, it is significantly stronger than many previous DCEU productions like Shazam!: Fury of the Gods and Wonder Woman 1984.

[Official synopsis]
Jaime Reyes, an ordinary high school student, finds himself thrust into a new destiny when he discovers the Scarab, an alien artifact, granting him superhuman abilities and weaponry. As Jaime learns to master his powers, he must protect Earth from an impending extraterrestrial threat while embracing his role as the Blue Beetle.

Fresh from college, Jaime Reyes comes back home with high hopes for his life ahead, but discovers that his old neighborhood has changed. In search of his place in the world, an unexpected turn of events occurs when Jaime stumbles upon a mysterious artifact of extraterrestrial technology – the Scarab. This ancient relic selects Jaime as its symbiotic host, granting him a powerful armor suit with unpredictable abilities. As a result, his future takes a dramatic shift as he assumes the role of the Super Hero, BLUE BEETLE.

Will Blue Beetle Return in the New DCU?

In essence, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s revamped DC Universe has essentially started from scratch, featuring a fresh cast to portray both famous and lesser-known characters from DC Comics. With all previous DCEU actors having moved on, Xolo Maridueña remains part of the DC Universe, as he will reprise his role as Jaime Reyes in the upcoming animated “Blue Beetle” series.

Previously, live-action and animated versions of DC Comics adaptations existed independently. However, filmmaker James Gunn aims to blend these worlds seamlessly under a unified DC Universe. This integration commenced with the 2024 movie “Creature Commandos,” and the upcoming “Blue Beetle” series will continue this pattern. Though an official air date hasn’t been announced yet, Xolo Maridueña has frequently voiced his enthusiasm for reprising his role. What makes this development particularly thrilling is that DC Universe characters may now transition between live-action and animation, suggesting a potential comeback of Jaime Reyes on the big screen in the future.

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2025-05-25 16:34