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DC once again recognizes all the Hispanic and Latinx talent! First DC Comics, one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, chose Dominican-American singer and actress Leslie Grace as “Batgirl” and now Mexican, Cuban, and Ecuadorian descent actor, Xolo Maridueña secures the role of Blue Beetle in HBO Max’s upcoming superhero movie of the same name.
Director Angel Manuel Soto confirmed the news during “The Suicide Squad” movie premiere. “I believe today is the day that Xolo comes in as a Blue Beetle,” Soto told Variety. “He just got the news today,” he added.
Maridueña, known for his role as Miguel Diaz in “Cobra Kai,” said he is excited to be a Latino playing a Latino character. “The only thing that is on my mind right now is just the fact that he’s Latino. I have so much pride in getting to be a part of this project with Angel, someone like him,” he said. “I think it’s so important, and I don’t want to stand on the soapbox for too long, but representation is so important.”
“Since I got the invitation from DC to work on this project, I couldn’t stop seeing him as the character,” Soto said about Xolo.
Like most superheroes, Blue Beetle also has an athletic figure; therefore, Maridueña needs to hit the gym and grow some muscles. “Luckily, I have a background in martial arts and training in that kind of realm, but this is a whole different game; this is like the big boys, so I’m ready to pack on a couple of pounds and hit the gym,” he said.
“It’s such a great opportunity, and I’m not going to take it lightly, and we’re about to make a kick-ass movie,” he added.
“Blue Beetle,” the movie, will follow the story of the Mexican-American comic book character Jaime Reyes. Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer will pen the screenplay.