After having a spectacular run as Miguel Diaz in Netflix’s Cobra Kai, Xolo Maridueña is the newest addition to the DCEU. The Latin-American actor will be making his film debut with Blue Beetle, where he shall be portraying the role of Jaime Reyes. The movie is helmed by director Angel Manuel Soto with Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer serving as writer.
Earlier this year, the Cobra Kai breakout star had revealed that he had already tried the costume. According to the actor, he needed to buff up before filming began. However, Maridueña had also confirmed that the suit looked “awesome”. Now, the first photos of the Cobra Kai star in the classic Blue Beetle costume have won over fans for their accuracy with the source material.
How did the fans react to Maridueña’s Blue Beetle costume?
The leaked set photos were met with extremely positive reactions as fans were ecstatic with the suit’s accuracy. Moreover, the Latin-American actor also seems to have put on a lot of muscle for the role, thus perfectly nailing the look of Jaime Reyes on screen.
The suit’s accuracy to the comics has been applauded by fans and has also drawn major comparisons with MCU. In recent years, the MCU has been criticized for creating dull, over-saturated suits and attires to attain a form of realism. However, the unfinished look of the leaked Blue Beetle suit has perfectly blended comic-book accuracy with realism, much to the delight of the fans.
Who is Jaime Reyes in the comics?
Despite being one of the oldest DC characters in existence, Blue Beetle has never been popularized in a live-action adaptation. Created first in 1939, the Blue Beetle moniker has been passed to three different characters over the years. While the Ted Kord version of Blue Beetle is unarguably the most popular, Jaime Reyes has also become enjoyed considerable success in recent years.
Jaime Reyes was first introduced in 2006, and has since become a fan-favorite iteration of Blue Beetle. As a Latin-American superhero, the character has struck a chord with the Latinx population with some compelling storylines and impeccable character development. Reyes became the third Blue Beetle after the death of Ted Kord in the comics when the Scarab attached itself to his body, thus granting him a slew of enhanced abilities.
When will Blue Beetle release?
Currently, the movie is slated to release on August 18, 2023. Apart from Xolo Maridueña, the Blue Beetle movie will star George Lopez, Adriana Barazza, Elpidia Carrillo, and Damian Alcazar as members of the Reyes family. Earlier this week, Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis was reported to have been cast as Ted Kord. Unfortunately, the report was debunked. Similarly, the movie had almost cast Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone as Victoria Kord, only to be replaced by Susan Sarandon.
Related: Blue Beetle Fan Casting: Actors Perfectly Suited To Play Ted Kord In DCEU
Prior to the movie’s release, lead actor Xolo Maridueña has revealed how important this movie is for him, and millions of Latin Americans. As the first Latin American DC Superhero on the big screen, Blue Beetle is expected to have a massive cultural significance upon its release.
