What a frustrating state of affairs Blue Beetle has had to contend with; it’s bad enough that everyone who is aware about the imminent superhero flick seem confused as to whether or not it connects to the DC Extended Universe or to James Gunn‘s incoming DC Universe (the correct answer is that if you’re watching movies only for the sake of continuity, you’re doing it wrong), but the marketing has been so poor that even being aware of it is akin to an accomplishment.
It’s only going to get worse in that department, too; with the Screen Actors Guild strike officially underway, actors are barred from doing any promotional work for any current or upcoming projects they’re involved with, meaning no interviews, no tours, and no premiere appearances, among other things.
Indeed, it’s a huge blow for Blue Beetle, which has now been deprived of some of its most reliable marketing conduits in its stars during a time when it was in desperate need of more promotion. It’s dubious, of course, whether said promotional opportunities were even going to be utilized in the first place given what the film has gone through so far, but I digress.
Here’s hoping good word of mouth for the flick starts springing up once it releases; Blue Beetle is one of DC’s most fascinating characters, and as the first major live-action superhero film to star a Latino lead, Blue Beetle‘s real-life story is one we’ll want a happy ending for.
Blue Beetle is due in theaters on Aug. 18.