The DCU Is Bringing Back A 2023 DC Movie Hero With Perfect Timing

Published Sep 3, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT

Zoë Miskelly is an editor and second in command for Screen Rant's Movies team, having covered the entertainment industry for almost 10 years now. Zoë's love of superheroes and all things Marvel & DC started out in childhood, and has blossomed into a career getting to talk about some of the biggest and best movies and shows of all time, having previously focused on comics while working at WhatCulture.

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The DC Universe is set to bring a 2023 DC movie hero back shortly in one of its next upcoming releases, in a move that is perfectly timed for more than one reason. The DCU timeline has thus far carefully worked towards ensuring it's clearly separated from the prior DCEU timeline and universe, firstly via moves like having Superman be now played by David Corenswet instead of Henry Cavill, and secondly via largely focusing on a very different range of heroes in its opening lineup.

This has allowed movie audiences to get to know characters like Mister Terrific and several Green Lanterns in a way they never have before in the world of film, opening up story options that previously seemed impossible for DC's cinematic movie universe. That said, the DCU has also kept some elements of the past as well, as is evidenced by John Cena returning as Peacemaker, and Jason Momoa returning to the DC movie world as well, albeit as Lobo instead of Aquaman.

These kinds of decisions have generally paid off for the franchise thus far, which sets the stage for the call to have one major 2023 DC movie hero return after the end of the DCEU in a way that should also pay dividends for the wider DCU - especially given the timing of their on-screen return.

Man Of Tomorrow's Blue Beetle Return Is Perfect Timing For The Character & The Franchise Alike

Man of Tomorrow has a big cast of characters, with figures from almost every existing corner of the DC Universe thus far set to appear in the 2027 movie - including Xolo Maridueña's Blue Beetle, who last appeared in the 2023 Blue Beetle movie.

The Blue Beetle movie came at an awkward point in DC's movie landscape, leaving it as semi-part of the DCEU timeline because it released before Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom debuted and ended the DCEU, and semi-part of the DC Universe timeline, because of comments that the hero could and would be part of the DCU. As it stands, this played a role in the movie's subpar box office results, and meant audiences were uncertain if they would in fact ever see the character again in the DCU itself as it began to unfold.

As such, Blue Beetle being a confirmed part of Man of Tomorrow's cast means that the character gets a second chance in less complex circumstances - and where he can build dynamics with many other major DC characters - and the DCU gets to adapt another underrated DC hero with some solid comic source material the franchise can bring to life for the first time.

It's also worth taking into account that Blue Beetle's rough age as a character being that of a young adult should be massively helpful for the DCU, since it means Jamie Reyes can be used as a figure who logically would interact more with other younger heroes, and could thus pave the way for the likes of the Teen Titans or various batkids to appear in the DC Universe in a streamlined way.

Bringing Blue Beetle Back In Man Of Tomorrow Also Avoids A Common Superhero Crossover Issue

Given Blue Beetle's last movie role was still relatively recent - even if it's not to be taken as fully DCU canon at this point in time - the DC Universe is in a position where it can afford to introduce the hero in Man of Tomorrow without having to detail his origin story or powers as meticulously as the film otherwise might have needed to if DC audiences hadn't been reminded of the hero back in 2023.

With superhero movies often suffering when they have to fully introduce several characters that audiences may be entirely unfamiliar with at once, this backdrop allows Blue Beetle's impending debut in Man of Tomorrow to make even more sense for the hero and the DC Universe alike, helping the franchise further balance the already healthy hero roster it's established this early in its planned overall run.