Director Angel Manuel Soto stated on Instagram that filming on WB’s Blue Beetle, which had been ongoing for several months, had come to an end. Cobra Kai’s Xolo Mariduea plays Jaime Reyes, the title character, in the Latino superhero project. After filming in Atlanta, Georgia; El Paso, Texas; and Santurce, Puerto Rico, the mega-project wrapped up primary photography on the island of enchantment. Blue Beetle has yet to have an official release date, despite photographs of Mariduea in the role appearing online while production was ongoing. This week’s San Diego Comic-Con may see it, but that’s just speculation.
The Puerto Rican filmmaker, working from a script by Mexican writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, is behind the camera for DC’s first Latinx superhero picture. Unofficially, there’s no word on the plot, but it’s safe to assume that Jaime Reyes, a Mexican-American teenager living in El Paso, would find an extraterrestrial scarab named Blue Beetle. Extraterrestrial armour is attached to his spine and his speed and strength are greatly boosted.
As if that wasn’t enough, the ability to generate weapons and shields on the fly like Green Lantern is also there. Additionally, George Lopez, Harvey Guillén, Belissa Escobedo as Milagros Reyes, and Bruna Marquezine as Jaime’s love interest round out the Latin-led cast. Raoul Max Trujillo (Mayans M.C.) will portray the minor villain Carapax the Indestructible Man, while Susan Sarandon will play the lead evil Victoria Kord. Ted Kord, the original Blue Beetle from the comics, may or may not make an appearance in the film; either way, her presence in the cast is a given.
It doesn’t matter if the alien scarab’s original host appears or not; Kord Industries will play a significant part in the film’s plot anyway. One year before its scheduled release, Blue Beetle marks a significant turning point in the history of superhero cinema. It’s no minor accomplishment to be the first comic book film in a long time to feature a Latino superhero. The DCEU movie was initially scheduled to premiere on HBO Max with Batgirl, but Warner Bros. decided to convert to a theatrical release instead.
The first Latino-led superhero picture should have a wide release in theatres, regardless of the growing popularity of streaming services. Blue Beetle, who has appeared in various small-screen ventures, including Young Justice, is a popular figure. On August 18, 2023, Blue Beetle will have its world premiere exclusively in cinemas.