Warner Bros. Blue Beetle has reportedly added three to its cast. The film features the young Mexican-American superhero Jaime Reyes, who will be portrayed by Cobra Kai‘s Xolo Maridueña. The film was originally flagged for HBO Max, but WB has since decided that this will be a theatrical release.
The New Cast Members
The most recognizable new face that has reportedly been added is that of What We Do In The Shadows co-star Harvey Guillén. His role in Blue Beetle has not been disclosed. (Nor has his casting been officially confirmed.)
Guillén portrays the sycophantic vampire wannabe-turned badass vampire slayer Guillermo de la Cruz on the Taika Waititi-created mockumentary for FX. He also recently starred in a series of Geico ads, had the role of Jasper on Amazon Prime Video’s Reacher, and he will voice Jose the Spider Receptionist in the upcoming Netflix animated series Human Resources, a spinoff from the hit Big Mouth.
In addition, it is reported that Brazilian actor Bruna Marquezine will make her English language debut as Jaime’s love interest Penny and that Belissa Escobedo will play Jaime’s younger sister, Milagros.
Marquezine has an extensive resumé in her native Brazil. Most recently, she played Ophelia in the film Ophelia’s Death and Catarina de Lurton in the series God Save the Queen. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg as she has starred in dozens of films and TV shows.
Former child actor Escobedo had the role of Natalie Garcia on the ABC rom-com The Baker and the Beauty. She also played Cari on Don’t Look Deeper which was offered on the short-lived platform Quibi and Shanti in the two-part episode “Rubber (Wo)Man” of American Horror Stories on FX on Hulu. Later this year, she will be seen as Izzy in Disney+’s Hocus Pocus 2.
Who Is The Blue Beetle?
In the comics, Jaime Reyes is the third superhero to operate under the codename Blue Beetle, but unlike his predecessors, he is the only one who actually has superpowers thanks to being bonded to an alien scarab which allows him to encase himself in a shapeshifting exoskeleton, fly, fire energy blasts, create weapons, and more. However, similarly to Venom, the scarab is sentient is not sympathetic and often urges Jaime to act more violently.
This version of Blue Beetle was introduced in 2006, during the comic book event series Final Crisis which kicked off with the death of the previous Blue Beetle, Ted Kord. Jaime proved popular and has starred in his own comics, Teen Titans and Justice League.
Jaime was portrayed by Jaren Brandt Bartlett in the tenth season of Smallville. Will Friedle voiced Jaime on Batman: The Brave and the Bold as a frequent guest-star. Jake T. Austin has voiced the character in multiple DC animated direct-to-video movies and on Justice League Action. Eric Lopez voices Jaime on Young Justice and played a major role in Season 2, although he has not been featured heavily since.
Warner Bros. is looking to release Blue Beetle in 2023. Angel Manuel Soto will direct from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer.
Check back for updates!
