The Wrap is reporting that filmmaker Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings) has been hired by Warner Bros. to direct the planned Blue Beetle movie. Mexican born writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala) is penning the screenplay for the solo project, which will put the spotlight on Jaime Reyes.
Three different characters have held the Blue Beetle mantle in the DC Comics Universe, with Reyes being the latest. Introduced in 2006 during Infinite Crisis, he's a working-class El Paso teenager who discovers the Blue Beetle scarab one day after school. From there, he's granted incredible powers, including a variety of mystical weapons, and enhanced speed and strength.
"It is an honor to direct Blue Beetle, the first Latino superhero film for DC," Soto told the trade in a statement today. "I want to sincerely thank everyone at Warner Bros. and DC for trusting me to bring Jaime Reyes to life. I can’t wait to make history together."
Production on Blue Beetle is expected to kick off in the Fall.
It's unclear whether this will be a theatrical release, or if it's one of the lower budgeted DC movies we've heard are being developed for HBO Max. Either way, this is exciting news for fans, and brings a character to the screen they've been desperate to see in a live-action setting for several years now.
Plot details are unknown at this stage, as is any sort of role Ted Kord might play in the feature.
Are you excited for Blue Beetle?