When Blue Beetle arrives on the big screen, it could have a major impact. Like the first Black Panther movie, the cultural significance of the project could be a big factor in its success. The DC Universe has been up and down throughout the years. Still, it's set to deliver the first major Latino superhero movie. With an exciting young star leading the way, Blue Beetle could impact the portrayal of Latino superheroes and the DCU.
The Warner Bros. Discovery project was initially slated for release on HBO Max but then upgraded to the big screen. Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña will play Jaime Reyes, a Latino teenager who becomes the latest in line to take on the mantle of the titular superhero. Maridueña has been a solid performer on Cobra Kai, a series that mixes action, drama and comedy. He should have little trouble performing the role of a superhero. And he won't be alone.
Blue Beetle Promises Good Representation of Latino Culture
Blue Beetle's cast includes veteran Latino stars like George Lopez and Raoul Trujillo. Those actors are joined by others from the younger generation. Harvey Guillén, Bruna Marquezine and Belissa Escobedo add to the Latino representation in what should be critical roles in the film. After seeing the likes of Salma Hayek appear in Eternals and Xochitl Gomez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Latin community will see a similar face front and center. Part of what made Black Panther special was that level of representation in a superhero film.
Maridueña is hopeful that this movie, and his character, will positively impact Latino superheroes moving forward. There is another element that will add to the unique nature of this film. In an appearance on The Tonight Show, Susan Sarandon, another star in Blue Beetle, revealed that a decent portion of dialogue will be in Spanish. "What's fabulous about it. It's the first LatinX hero that has his own movie. Even better, all of the Mexican, because his family is Mexican and all the actors were Mexican or Mexican-American, and it's in Spanish, so it's subtitled."
Blue Beetle Will Reportedly Have a Big Impact on the DCU
Another thing that may excite DC Comics fans is the importance of the film. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Maridueña said he was advised Blue Beetle would be significant within the DCU. How big of an impact remains to be seen, with movies like Black Adam, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The Flash expected to arrive before it. In the comics, Blue Beetle has a long history of fighting alongside some of DC's most famous superheroes. While there's no evidence that will be the case in this film, a solid first outing would mean more to come.
If Blue Beetle is successful, the DCU could head into outer space. While the upcoming film seems to be focused on more grounded enemies, such as Sarandon's Victoria Kord, a large part of Maridueña's version of the character concerns outer space. That may be what the future holds. Being the first major Latino superhero movie is a big deal. There are a lot of positive signs that something good is in store, and the director has promised something badass. The cast on board signals a good representation of culture. Blue Beetle has an excellent chance to have a major cultural impact when it hits the big screen.
Blue Beetle will arrive in theaters on Aug. 18, 2023.