Blue Beetle Casting: The Secret Behind The Casting of Xolo Maridueña as Blue Beetle

Xolo Maridueña, one of the lead stars of the Netflix hit series, Cobra Kai is set to make his big screen debut in an even bigger way than expected. As he portrays one of DC comics’ most well received characters, Jaime Reyes.

A character who would later go on to become the universe’s 3rd interation of the superhero known as, Blue Beetle. A moniker majority of audiences will know him by. But even then, having only existed in animated adaptations; the character’s popularity is still considered as being in flux. A situation that is sure to change once the character’s upcoming standalone film arrives in cinemas.

But just how did Xolo land the coveted role?

Well, it begins with starring in a hit series that apparently put him on the radar of the filmmakers and a certain former WB Exec. As it just so happened that the project was being developed at around the same time Cobra Kai had debuted its first season.
Ever so rarely does it happen when an actor/actress is specifically asked for to be given a role, rather than audition.

That’s why Xolo bagging Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle is huge. Because it is in the tier of those ‘never-before-seen’ moments.

The young actor essentially revealed it in an interview, recounting how he’d been blindsided by a lunch invite with then chief of DC films, Walter Hamada. As he ended up meeting the film’s director as well as the screenwriter. All of whom had unanimously offered him the role. And of course, the rest as they say, is history.

With the actor now coming into his own in Hollywood, it will be exciting to see what strides he makes next.

As the evolution from karate kid superstar to young adult superhero is quite an amazing feat.

Blue Beetle opens in Cinemas August 18, 2023.