Cobra Kai star Xolo Maridueña is speaking out about his history-making role in the Worlds of DC superhero movie Blue Beetle.
It was announced this week that Maridueña will be the first Latino-led superhero film lead for DC in HBO Max's adaptation of the hero Jaime Reyes.
The Reyes version of the character is an El Paso, Texas teen who is granted super-powers when an alien scarab beetle attaches itself to his back.
Speaking to Variety, Maridueña admitted that he doesn't take "lightly" the responsibility of being the first Latino actor with his own comics franchise.
Related: The Karate Kid cast reunite ahead of Cobra Kai season 3
"The only thing that is on my mind right now is just the fact that he's Latino. I have so much pride in getting to be a part of this project with Angel, someone like him," he said.
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"I think it's so important, and I don't want to stand on the soapbox for too long but representation is so important."
While Maridueña keeps in fighting shape for Cobra Kai already, the actor has said he's going to beef up even more for his DC debut.
"Luckily I have a background in martial arts and training in that kind of realm but this is a whole different game, this is like the big boys, so I'm ready to pack on a couple pounds and hit the gym," he said.
The Jaime Reyes incarnation of Blue Beetle is a legacy version of the character first created by Fox Comics in 1939 (and later purchased by DC Comics for reinvention).
HBO has yet to announce a release date for Blue Beetle, which will be made by Charm City Kings director Angel Manuel Soto.
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Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
