Is Blue Beetle a part of the DCU? Details from the 2023 film, explored

Blue Beetle is a superhero film from the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) that was released on August 18, 2023. The film was directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, while Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer wrote the script. Here's the official synopsis:

An alien scarab chooses Jaime Reyes to be its symbiotic host, bestowing the recent college graduate with a suit of armor that's capable of extraordinary powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero known as Blue Beetle.

Despite some reports and rumors, the film is not a part of the DCU that has been formed under James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Is Blue Beetle a part of the DCU?

Blue Beetle showcases characters from the DC Comics, and it came around the time when James Gunn and Peter Safran revamped the studio and came up with a new DCU. In a January 2023 interview, Gunn had stated that the film is disconnected from that universe. The film's director, Ángel Manuel Soto, gave an interview to Total Magazine where he said that it is a part of the universe, but it's not connected to the previous films. He said,

"We are part of the universe, we are part of the world, we are part of the plans that they have been creating for the future instalments of the DCU. But we are not tied to all the films from the past. Yes, our movie lives in the world where superheroes exist. But that doesn't mean that a certain event, or certain alliance, or certain things from the past dictate where our film is going."

In a later interview, Gunn said that it's the first DCU character, but the first DCU film will be the 2025 superhero flick Superman. He said,

"I mean, the first DCU character, for sure, is Blue Beetle, and the first full DCU movie is Superman."

Xolo Maridueña, as per Gunn, will continue to portray Jaime Reyes aka Blue Beetle in the universe, but any media prior to 2024 won't be canon to the franchise.

Back in January 2024, DC Studios confirmed that they have been working on an animation series on the character, which is expected to connect it to the DCU. The series is expected to drop sometime in 2026.

The first chapter of DCU, called Gods and Monsters, will begin with Superman, which will be released on July 11, 2025. This will be followed by Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Clayface, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold and Swamp Thing. The franchise will also consist of films on Teen Titans, Bane and Deathstroke as well as Sgt. Rock.