Xolo Maridueña to return as Blue Beetle in Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow

Xolo Maridueña to return as Blue Beetle in Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow

Xolo Maridueña will reprise his role as Jaime Reyes in Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to James Gunn's Superman, according to reports from Variety and The Wrap. The film is currently in production with a scheduled release date of July 9, 2027.

The move integrates the bug-based hero into the new DC Universe (DCU) following a complicated transition between the previous cinematic regime and the current leadership of Gunn and Peter Safran. While the Blue Beetle film premiered in August 2023, it was released during a period of shift between the Snyderverse and the DCU. Maridueña previously described the character as a fusion of Green Lantern and Iron Man, featuring an alien scarab attached to his body known as Khaji da.

Despite the character's return, the 2023 Blue Beetle film itself is not considered canon, as no DC projects before 2024 are recognized in the new timeline. This means Man of Tomorrow will serve as the character's formal reintroduction into the DCU.

The decision to retain Maridueña comes despite the first film's financial performance. The movie grossed $130.8 million worldwide against a budget of $104 - $125 million. While it struggled at the box office and received mixed reviews, it later became one of the most watched films on HBO Max. Critics had praised Maridueña's performance as the Mexican-American teenager, though some noted that genre clichés and the third act prevented the film from being great.

Gunn has long signaled his intent to keep the character. On an episode of Inside Of You With Michael Rosenbaum, he identified Blue Beetle as the first DCU character for sure, while noting that Superman was the first full DC movie. During the 2023 premiere of Blue Beetle, Gunn posted on Instagram that Jaime Reyes will be an amazing part of the DCU going forward!

Reyes is not the only returning figure. Milly Alcock is also confirmed to play a big role in Man of Tomorrow, reprising her role as Supergirl. Discussing the 2026 Supergirl film in June 2026, Gunn explained that this version of the character is distinct because she is not like her cousin, Superman.

"She's very, very different from her cousin, which puts them at odds, which is a big part of this movie [Supergirl]. And then an even bigger part of Man of Tomorrow, which we're filming now,"

James Gunn, via IGN

The inclusion of Blue Beetle may align with the character's comic book history, where he has a long association with the Justice League International. This could potentially place him on a superteam alongside figures such as Mister Terrific and Guy Gardner, who already have associations with Superman in the DCU.

While Maridueña is returning, Gunn has remained silent regarding the DCU eligibility of other characters from the 2023 film, specifically Rudy Reyes and Nana. Additionally, reports from last year suggested an animated series featuring Maridueña voicing Jaime Reyes was in early production stages.

Further details regarding the DCU are expected to be revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2026.