Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios’ superhero fighting game Injustice 2 has been a huge influence on DC’s new Blue Beetle movie. Almost six years after its release, the video game is a major inspiration for the DC’s latest blockbuster.
In an interview with DiscussingFilm, director Ángel Manuel Soto revealed that the NetherRealm game was integral to the development of protagonist Jaime Reyes. Numerous moves from the fighting game can be seen acted out inside the new movie’s action set-pieces.
However, the DC fighting game isn’t the only video game to inspire the movie. Soto explained that one of Blue Beetle’s signature weapons was inspired by Capcom’s iconic Mega Man: his blaster.
“We play with different alternatives that are fantastic and the wish-fulfillment of a young man,” the director explained. “For example, a lot of the combos in Injustice 2, we used them as a reference during fights and with the manifestations of the weapons. Blue Beetle’s blaster was even inspired by Mega Man!”
The blaster isn’t the only direct video game reference to be seen within the film, either. In fact, many fans noticed that the character dons a massive, anime-sequel sword in one of the trailers. As it just so happens, this was inspired by Cloud Strife’s iconic Final Fantasy VII weapon, the Buster Sword.
“[I] always wanted to have a buster sword like they do in Final Fantasy,” the director explained. Now we all know why Blue Beetle has one.
At the time of writing, Blue Beetle’s video game run has been rather lacklustre. Outside of a main role in Injustice 2, the character has mostly been a guest character in titles like DC LEGO Batman 3, Scribblenauts and more.
DC’s Blue Beetle is available to watch now in cinemas around the world. The movie is the first entry in DC’s revised Cinematic Universe helmed by Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn.
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