GeekTyrant says Xolo Maridueña, best known for his role in the series Cobra Kai, will play DC Comics superhero Blue Beetle in an upcoming film. The project will be helmed by director Angel Manuel Soto who previously made the film Charm City Kings. Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala) will write the script.
The original Blue Beetle date back to 1939, but bears few similarities to the modern-day version of the character. Jaime Reyes is the third incarnation of this superhero. Created by Keith Giffen, Cully Hamner, and John Rogers, he first appeared in 2006. A native of El Paso, Texas, Reyes accidentally discovers the mysterious Blue Beetle scarab – an ancient artifact of unknown origin. The scarab can morph into a battle suit and grants its wearer a host of other incredible powers, allowing Reyes to fight evil alongside superheroes.
After appearing on TV shows like Parenthood and Rush Hour, Xolo Maridueña drew notice by playing a bullied teenager Miguel Díaz in the Youtube original series Cobra Kai. Díaz becomes the first pupil of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) – a villain from the first Karate Kid movies. Inadvertently, a former school bully ends up teaching a new generation of kids how to stand up and fight their bullies back.
