Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto is optimistic about the future of his characters and storylines, and the mid-credit scene in the film plays a big role in that. James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, has confirmed that Blue Beetle will have a future in the new DCU, which starts with Superman: Legacy in 2025. Soto has expressed his hopes for the inclusion of characters like the extended Reyes family and Jenny Kord (played by Bruna Marquezine). The mid-credit scene reveals that Jenny’s father, Ted Kord (the second Blue Beetle), is still alive. This revelation gives Soto hope that this storyline will continue, especially considering that scenes have been cut from other DCEU films to avoid false hope for nonexistent futures. Soto explains that bringing back Ted Kord was a priority and that he and the screenwriter, Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, wanted to explore the relationship between Ted and Jaime Reyes as mentor and mentee, as well as their connection to Booster Gold. The promise from James Gunn and Peter Safran to explore Booster Gold in future projects helped Soto keep the idea that Ted Kord is alive and will be part of future adventures if the film performs well.
During a spoiler-filled conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Soto discusses his favorite aspect of the film: the backstory of the antagonist, Carapax (played by Raoul Max Trujillo). Soto wanted to give Carapax a reason for being a villain, as Latino villains in movies often lack proper motivations. He drew inspiration from the history of Latin America, particularly the School of the Americas, which was responsible for violence and interventionism in the region. Soto wanted to ground the film in the realities that affect the Latino community and shed light on the historical exploitation experienced by Latinos. While Carapax and Bane have different backstories, they both represent victims of historical exploitation in their communities. Soto suggests that they may have crossed paths or at least existed in the same world. Soto also discusses the character of Nana, played by Adriana Barraza, and expresses interest in exploring her origins in a prequel series. He sees Nana as a celebration of strong women and matriarchal energy in Latin America. The film aims to show the sacrifices made by previous generations and the history that may have been lost through assimilation. Soto believes that telling Nana’s story would be an untapped opportunity to showcase the woman responsible for the Zapatista movement and the revolution in Mexico.
Soto’s optimism for the future of Blue Beetle stems from Ted Kord’s appearance in the mid-credit scene. The fact that the scene remains suggests that this storyline has a chance to continue. Soto is hopeful because a film with a Latino cast and no A-list stars is getting a spotlight, something that hasn’t been done before. He sees this film as the first act of a saga and wants to continue telling the story. Soto and Dunnet-Alcocer wanted the audience to fall in love with the family and community before introducing explosions and action. They wanted to establish the characters and their relationships, including the mentorship between Jaime Reyes and Ted Kord, as well as the connection to Booster Gold. Soto acknowledges that the film’s success will determine what happens next for these characters.
The film explores the loss of the family patriarch, Alberto Reyes (played by Damián Alcázar), and the destruction of the family home by Victoria Kord (played by Susan Sarandon). Soto explains that achieving the right tone for these moments required a delicate balance. They wanted the experiences of the family to be intense and meaningful, rather than just a random accident. They wanted the audience to connect with the characters emotionally and understand the challenges they face.
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Overall, Ángel Manuel Soto is excited about the future of Blue Beetle and the potential for further exploration of the characters and storylines. The mid-credit scene with Ted Kord’s appearance and the positive response from James Gunn and Peter Safran give Soto hope for the continuation of this saga. The film has already tackled important themes and narratives, including the representation of Latinos and the exploration of historical exploitation. Soto’s passion for these stories and characters shines through, and he hopes that audiences will respond positively to the film, leading to more adventures for Jaime Reyes and the inclusion of Ted Kord.
