DC is trying lots of different strategies to try and revive their money-hemorrhaging extended live-action universe. Wonder Woman provided some serious relief, and Shazam! looks like they’re finally dropping the dark, gritty formula they kept pushing on audiences. Heck, getting James Gunn to work on Suicide Squad 2 will probably be another jolt to their system. But DC has to do more than that if they want to make their films viable, so now they’re adding two new faces to their film roster: Blue Beetle and Plastic Man.
In late November, DC announced it would be working on a Blue Beetle film centered around Jaime Reyes, and will be the first Latino-led superhero live-action film. Mexican-born writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer has been taped to write the screenplay for the film. For those unfamiliar with the character’s backstory, Jaime Reyes finds a blue scarab on his way home and decides to take it with him. That night, the scarab attached to his spine and reveals itself to be an alien super suit, giving Jaime incredible powers that he uses to fight evil.
Plastic Man is likely to be a little less serious than Blue Beetle. It follows Patrick “Eel” O’Brian, a bad guy turned hero after a bad heist leaves him doused in a weird chemical that makes him stretchy and bendy. Think Mr. Fantastic but with a lot more sass and some shape-shifting thrown in. Though he was a part of the Justice League for a time, don’t expect that to be a part of his story. According to The Hollywood Reporter, up-and-coming screenwriter Amanda Idoko will write the screenplay as an action comedy. Ben Schwartz of Parks and Rec fame has said that he would be interested in playing the role, which would pretty much be perfect casting.
Neither project has any directors tied to them, nor is there any casting or release information to share. Both of these origin films are helping to diversify DC’s offerings but will they be enough to turn their reputation around? We’ll just have to wait and see.
