Blue Beetle fans, take a breath. James Gunn heard the finale-night theories, and he finally said the quiet part out loud: you did not miss a secret cameo in the Peacemaker Season 2 closer. But if you want to see Jaime Reyes again, you might not be waiting forever.
What Gunn actually said (and what he didn’t)
During a Peacemaker Season 2 finale watch party on Threads, Gunn addressed the Blue Beetle chatter head-on and drew a clear line between hype and reality.
"I never said Blue Beetle was going to be there. I said people might be in luck who want to see Blue Beetle again."
Translation: Xolo Mariduena’s Jaime Reyes is part of the new DCU canon, and Gunn intends to use him again. He just was never slated to pop up in the Season 2 finale.
So where does Blue Beetle stand in the DCU?
Gunn has folded the 2023 Blue Beetle film into the new DC Universe continuity. That’s the important bit. The character is in play for future DCU projects, even if Gunn is keeping specifics tightly sealed for now.
About that Peacemaker finale backlash...
The Season 2 finale split audiences, mostly because it leaned harder on character work than big, splashy action. Gunn’s response was pretty level-headed: not every episode hits for everyone, he loves it, and it’s fair if you don’t. He also pushed back on the idea that the episode was light on surprises, pointing to what he sees as major reveals baked into the hour.
The notable name-drops: Checkmate and Salvation — two comic-book organizations Gunn clearly plans to thread into upcoming DCU stories. If that feels like a deep-cut breadcrumb trail, that’s because it is.
Clearing up the finale theories
Gunn did a little myth-busting while he was at it. The A.R.G.U.S. agent Langston Fleury? Not Martian Manhunter, despite the fan theory that took off. And Rick Flag Sr. isn’t a metahuman bigot; Gunn says the character’s agenda is driven by fear of superpowered influence over global politics and, more practically, how hard it is to contain metahuman criminals. That’s a character note, not a heel turn.
Quick hits
- Blue Beetle did not cameo in the Peacemaker S2 finale, and Gunn never promised he would.
- Gunn says fans who want more Blue Beetle "might be in luck," implying future DCU appearances.
- The 2023 Blue Beetle movie is officially part of the new DCU continuity.
- Peacemaker S2 finale reactions were mixed; Gunn is fine with that and stands by the episode.
- He says the finale did include big reveals, specifically Checkmate and Salvation, which are set up for future DCU arcs.
- Langston Fleury is not Martian Manhunter.
- Rick Flag Sr.’s stance comes from fear of metahuman power and containment issues, not hatred.
Bottom line: no stealth Beetle in Peacemaker, but Jaime Reyes isn’t going anywhere. Gunn’s playing a longer game, and he’s already planting the pieces.