Warner Bros. has dropped the first official trailer for its highly-anticipated DC Universe movie Blue Beetle. Featuring Xolo Maridueña of Cobra Kai fame, Blue Beetle introduces audiences to Jaime Reyes, the latest addition to the ever-growing superhero pantheon. The trailer offers fans their first glimpse into the big screen debut of Jaime, which promises to bring a new spin to the superhero genre.
Representation in superhero media has been a hot topic in recent years, with audiences calling for more diversity in casting and storytelling. Blue Beetle marks a step forward in this regard and fans have already taken to social media to express their excitement for the movie.
A 20-year old actor of Mexican, Cuban and Ecuadorian descent, Xolo Maridueña is best known for his work as Miguel Diaz in the Karate Kid sequel series Cobra Kai, which made its debut on YouTube Red before moving to Netflix. He previously starred in the NBC series Parenthood. Blue Beetle marks Maridueña’s first foray into the DC Universe.
Jaime also happens to transform into the Blue Beetle in front of his family, something not seen before in superhero movies.
“It’s kind of funny, we see some of these other superheroes who are able to hide from their family the fact that they’re a superhero,” Maridueña said at a recent press event for the trailer. “His family is right there on that first transformation. To come through this journey together is something that I think we haven’t seen before in superhero movies, and that that really is the the beating heart of this movie.”
Marideuna added: “Although this was my first time being a superhero and kind of coming into a character like this, as you’ll see in the movie, it can’t happen without the family. That’s a theme that I think, whether or not you’re Latino, it transcends ethnicity, it transcends color of skin because that’s something that we can all relate from. The stuff that you see in this movie, it’s all very tangible, and it feels rooted in today’s world.”
The official Blue Beetle synopsis was also released with the trailer: “Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.”
Who is DC’s Blue Beetle?
Blue Beetle is one of DC’s lesser-known heroes, but he has a dedicated fanbase nonetheless. Created in 1939 by Charles Wojtkowski, Blue Beetle has gone through several iterations over the years. The Jamie Reyes version of the character was introduced during the events of 2006’s Infinite Crisis and quickly became a fan-favorite.
In the pages of DC Comics, Jamie Reyes is a teenager from El Paso, Texas. Jamie discovers a scarab beetle-shaped device that bonds with his body, giving him access to an advanced suit of armor and various powers. He becomes the latest in a long line of Blue Beetles and must learn to balance his newfound abilities with his everyday life.
Angel Manuel Soto is directing Blue Beetle from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. The full cast of the movie also includes Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Trujillo, Susan Sarandon and Harvey Guillén.
Blue Beetle is currently scheduled to hit theaters on August 18, 2023. Stay tuned for the latest news surrounding the film.
