DC Comics fans, brace yourselves for the epic new “Blue Beetle” film – a groundbreaking movie that features the first Latino live-action superhero in a lead role. Warner Bros. has recently released the first trailer for the highly-anticipated comic book film, and it promises to be a game-changer. Starring “Cobra Kai” star Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, the film shows him taking on the mantle of the “Blue Beetle,” after being chosen by an ancient alien artifact known as the Scarab. The symbiotic host attaches itself to his spine, granting him a bio-mechanical blue suit of armor with extraordinary powers.
Unlike other superheroes who keep their identity hidden from family and friends, Reyes’ family members know he’s the titular superhero from the start, and they are with him when he first transforms into “Blue Beetle.” Directed by Angel Manuel Soto, “Blue Beetle” boasts a predominantly Latino cast, including George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar, and Belissa Escobedo as Reyes’ family members. Bruna Marquezine plays his love interest, Penny, while Raoul Trujillo and Susan Sarandon portray the villains.
The Reyes version of “Blue Beetle” is one of the most prominent Latino superheroes in comics, and Soto has made sure to highlight this by tapping into three generations of Reyes’ immigrant family, making them central to the film, while also making them relatable to all audience members.
“Whether or not you’re Latino, it transcends ethnicity, it transcends color or skin because that’s something that we can all relate [to],” Soto said. “We are not a genre and we’re not a buzzword either. It is a superhero movie that happens to have a Latino at the forefront. That’s it.”
Originally intended to be released as an HBO Max original film alongside the now-scrapped “Batgirl,” “Blue Beetle” has been shifted to a theatrical release and is set to hit the big screens on August 18. So get ready for the summer’s most anticipated blockbuster that promises to break new ground in superhero representation!
