Production on Warner Bros’ upcoming Blue Beetle film has officially begun, and due to some fresh set photos, fans can get a great look at the hero in his complete suit.
Fans had a good idea of what to expect from the suit thanks to DC Comics’ DC FanDome event late last year, but new set photos of star Xolo Maridueña in full costume show exactly what fans can expect when the film premieres next year. Check out the photos of Maridueña as Blue Beetle below:
The DCEU costume looks a bit like a mash-up of Iron Man, Iron Spider, and the costume from 1994s Guyver: Dark Hero. This feels like the perfect comparison upon seeing these photos. While it doesn’t look to be entirely plated metal like that of Tony Stark’s suit, it is pretty damned close. The mask even shares a design similar to that of Marvel’s red and gold Avenger.
Side note: If you haven’t ever seen Guyver: Dark Hero, do yourself a favour a watch it as soon as humanly possible. Because slight cheesiness aside, it’s an AWESOME film.
Moving on, the Blue Beetle film will be directed by Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings) from a screenplay adapted by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala). Cobra Kai breakout star Xolo Maridueña is the star of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films’ first stand-alone Latino-led superhero movie as Mexican American teenager, Jaime Reyes.
Joining Maridueña are a TON of Latin stars including Raoul Max Trujillo as the villainous Conrad Carapax, George Lopez as Jaime’s uncle Rudy, Harvey Guillén (What We Do In the Shadows, Reacher), Bruna Marquezine (Breaking Through) as Penny, Belissa Escobedo (Sex Appeal, Hocus Pocus 2) as Milagro Reyes, Adrianna Barraza (Babel) as Nana, Elpidia Carrillo (Predator) as Rocio, Damián Alcázar (Narcos) as Alberto, and Susan Sarandon as Victoria Kord, who is rumored to be an antagonist.
If Victoria’s name sounds a bit familiar, it’s because she shares a last name with Ted Kord, the man who held the non-superpowered mantle of Blue Beetle before Jaime, but right now it’s unclear if Ted will appear in the film.
Jaime Reyes made his debut as Blue Beetle in the pages of Infinite Crisis #5 back in 2006, created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers, and Cully Hamner. A live-action version of the DC Comics hero appeared in the Superman prequel series Smallville, played by Jaren Brandt Bartlett.
In the comics, Jaime Reyes was the third character, after Dan Garret and Ted Kord, to take on the mantle of the Blue Beetle. His powers came from a Blue Beetle scarab that grafted itself to the base of Jaime’s spine, allowing him to wear a suit of extraterrestrial armour that can be modified to increase his speed and strength, as well as create weapons, wings, and shields.
The Blue Beetle film, which was originally planned as an HBO Max original, will now have an exclusive theatrical release on 18 August 2023. Warner Bros’ Zev Foreman will serve as an executive producer, and John Rickard will serve as a producer.
The first look at the new Blue Beetle costume doesn’t disappoint, and Xolo Maridueña looks like a perfect choice for Jaime Reyes. But what do you think of the Blue Beetle costume? Let us know on Twitter.
Photos are courtesy JustJared, DC Comics, and Warner Bros.
