Jaime Reyes has been active in the DC Comics universe as Blue Beetle for a decade and a half now, and along with plenty of printed page adventures, he’s built a fanbase through various television, direct-to-video movie and video game appearances. But soon Jaime’s popularity will soar even higher thanks to the live-action Blue Beetle movie that’s in development, and word’s come in that Cobra Kai star Xolo Maridueña is being lined up for the lead role.
The name might not sound familiar to you, but Cobra Kai fans will instantly recognize Xolo Maridueña for playing Miguel Diaz, one of the Netflix series’ main characters. Maridueña’s other notable credits include starring in NBC’s Parenthood and lending his voice to the animated kids shows Victor and Valentino and Cleopatra in Space. According to The Wrap, the actor is now in talks to star as Jaime Reyes in Blue Beetle, which is Warner Bros and DC Films’ first superhero movie starring a Latino character.
So while a deal hasn’t been finalized just yet, assuming all goes according to plan, Xolo Maridueña will join the DC Extended Universe as Blue Beetle and be the second actor to play Jaime in live-action, following Jaren Brandt Batlett’s brief turn as the character in an episode of Smallville. News of Maridueña’s potential involvement in Blue Beetle comes two weeks after In the Heights star Leslie Grace as cast as Barbara Gordon for the Batgirl movie.
The Blue Beetle superhero mantle has existed since 1939, with Dan Garrett first fighting crime with that moniker and Ted Kord succeeding him. While Ted became well-known both as a solo superhero and for teaming up with Booster Gold and other members of the Justice League International, unlike Dan, he was never able to access the powers of the Scarab (which has varied from being magical or extraterrestrial in origin), and thus fought crime with his own combat skills and special gadgets. Jaime Reyes, on the other hand, fused with the Scarab upon discovering it in his hometown of El Paso, Texas, and among the powers he has when fully armored up as Blue Beetle include super strength, flight, projecting energy blasts/shields and understanding alien languages.
Outside of the comics, Jaime Reyes has been featured in animated TV shows like Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Young Justice and Justice League Action; starred in the DC Animated Movie Universe installments Justice League vs. Teen Titans and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract; and is a playable character in video games like Injustice 2 and Lego DC Super-Villains. As far as Jaime’s live-action movie goes, Charm City Kings’ Angel Manuel Soto will direct Blue Beetle off a script from Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, who penned Universal Pictures’ upcoming Scarface remake.
Like Batgirl, Blue Beetle will be an HBO Max exclusive movie rather than screen in theaters. Production is expected to begin in early 2022, so stay locked on CinemaBlend for more news about Blue Beetle and other upcoming DC Comics movies.
