Xolo Maridueña Confirms Blue Beetle Return in ‘Man of Tomorrow’

LOS ANGELES — Sept. 1, 2026 — Xolo Maridueña confirmed he will reprise Jaime Reyes in “Man of Tomorrow” after James Gunn called him in Japan with a secret offer, reviving the scarab-powered hero for the July 9, 2027, Superman sequel.

TL;DR

• Xolo Maridueña will reprise Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle in “Man of Tomorrow,” due in theaters July 9, 2027.
• James Gunn phoned Maridueña personally while the actor was traveling in Japan with friends.
• The casting fulfills a promise Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran made after the 2023 “Blue Beetle” film.
• UK fans can revisit the original movie now, which the BBFC rated 12A for moderate violence and threat.

The confirmation ends months of fan speculation over whether Jaime Reyes would survive Warner Bros.’ DC reboot. It also fulfills a promise Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran made to Maridueña shortly after the character’s 2023 debut.

“I was in Japan with my friends; nobody knew anything. And I just see, like the Bat-phone, my phone rings [and it’s] James Gunn,” said Xolo Maridueña, the actor who plays Jaime Reyes.

“All my friends look at me, and I had to leave the room,” Maridueña said. “I came back, and I was like, ‘Off the record, don’t tell anyone, but we’re coming back.'”

The Surprise Call From James Gunn

Maridueña shared the story at the Los Angeles premiere of “Practical Magic 2” on Aug. 31, 2026. Variety captured the exchange on camera, and the clip quickly spread among DC fans, according to a report detailing the interview. He said he had assumed his run as Blue Beetle was finished before the call came through. The actor described feeling “humbled” that Gunn’s team folded him back into the DC Universe.

A Promise Years in the Making

Gunn and Safran told Maridueña he would keep playing the character even before “Superman” launched the rebooted DCU in 2025. Gunn has repeatedly reported that Jaime Reyes, not Superman, is technically the DCU’s first character. “Blue Beetle” earned $130.8 million worldwide in 2023 and drew strong turnout from Latino moviegoers despite arriving under the previous DC regime. Maridueña’s return marks the first time that origin story carries forward into Gunn’s new continuity.

Joining an Ensemble Against Brainiac

“Man of Tomorrow” is currently in production and stars David Corenswet as Superman opposite Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor. The pair form an uneasy alliance to fight the alien android Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger. Maridueña’s Blue Beetle joins Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart-era Green Lantern in the expanded hero roster. The film reaches theaters worldwide on July 9, 2027.

What UK Fans Should Know

British audiences can revisit Maridueña’s origin story ahead of the sequel. The British Board of Film Classification rated the 2023 “Blue Beetle” a 12A, citing moderate violence, threat, bloody images and infrequent strong language. That means UK children under 12 can watch in cinemas only with an accompanying adult. The BBFC’s full ratings breakdown is available on its official release page.

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