According to The Wrap, Oscar winner Susan Sarandon has officially signed on to star opposite Xolo Maridueña in Warner Bros. Pictures’ live-action Blue Beetle movie. The Thelma & Louise actress is set to portray the villainous character of Victoria Kord in the forthcoming DC film. She will be replacing Sharon Stone, who was previously in final negotiations for the role two weeks ago.
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The Blue Beetle movie will be directed by Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings) from a screenplay adapted by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala). Cobra Kai breakout Xolo Maridueña stars in Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films’ first stand-alone Latino-led superhero movie as Mexican American teenager, Jaime Reyes.
Joining Maridueña are Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), Brazilian star Bruna Marquezine (Breaking Through) as Penny, and Belissa Escobedo (Sex Appeal, Hocus Pocus 2) as Milagro Reyes, George Lopez (The Spy Next Door) as Uncle Rudy, Adrianna Barraza (Babel) as Nana, Elpidia Carrillo (Predator) as Rocio, and Damián Alcázar (Narcos) as Alberto.
Originally set as an HBO Max original film, Blue Beetle is now scheduled for an exclusive theatrical release on August 18, 2023. It will be executive produced by Zev Foreman of Warner Bros. with John Rickard set as a producer.
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In the comics, Jaime Reyes was the third character in the comics to take on the mantle of the Blue Beetle following Dan Garret and Ted Kord. His powers came from a Blue Beetle scarab that grafted itself to the base of Jaime’s spine, allowing him to have a suit of extraterrestrial armor that can be modified to enhance his speed and strength, as well as create weapons, wings, and shields.
