Xolo Maridueña is Blue Beetle. The Cobra Kai star confirmed the news of his casting on his social media last week. “It’s official…I am beyond grateful to be able to fill in these enormous shoes as one of the first Latino Superhero [sic] on the big screen,” he posted.
Maridueña will play Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle in the upcoming DC comic. The role will be one of many forthcoming Latine characters or actors to enter the DC extended universe (DCEU).
Jaime Reyes is the latest iteration of the Blue Beetle character: an El Paso teenager who uses special armor to defend the border town. Previous versions of the character have included an archaeologist named Dan Garrett, who first discovered an ancient Scarab in an Egyptian tomb that gave him superhero powers. The second character to take over Blue Beetle was Ted Kord. And for the latest Beetle, Jaime is “bonded with Dan Garrett’s Scarab.” It’s important to note that since Blue Beetle’s debut in the comics, he has become a part of other DC teams like the Justice League and the Teen Titans.
Maridueña is the latest Latine actor to make headlines in the Superhero genre. In The Heights actress, Leslie Grace was recently announced as the newest Batgirl. Tenoch Huerta has been attached as the next anti-hero in the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Earlier this year, Sasha Calle was announced as Supergirl in The Flash.
Maridueña’s elation was evident in his social media posting. But the young actor took a moment also to acknowledge actress Leslie Grace. “Also, huge congrats to Leslie on getting cast as Batgirl, LET’S GO OUT AND SUPPORT THESE MOVIES. THIS MOVIE IS GONNA BE FOR THE WORLD. IM A F*%)ing SUPERHERO WHAT THE HECK,” he wrote.
DC has plans to start shooting Blue Beetle early next year and will air on HBO Max. In the meantime, fans of Maridueña can see him in Cobra Kai on Netflix. The fourth season is set to stream in December.