During Sony Pictures’ recent CinemaCon panel, it was officially announced that Grammy-winning Puerto Rican rapper Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, has signed on to become the studio’s next Marvel hero in its forthcoming live-action El Muerto film. This marks the first Latin superhero to lead his own film within the Marvel universe. It is scheduled to make its debut on January 12, 2024.
“It’s amazing, it’s incredible,” Ocasio said during his surprise appearance at CinemaCon. “I love wrestling. I grew up watching wrestling and I’m a wrestler. I’m a former champion so this is why I love this character. I think it’s the perfect role to me and it will be epic.”
In the comics, Juan Carlos Estrada Sanchez is a superpowered wrestler who goes by the name of El Muerto. He inherits his powers from his father, who sacrificed his life in order save Juan Carlos from their family’s long-time nemesis El Dorado. In a charity wrestling match, Juan Carlos’ El Muerto nearly unmasks Spider-Man, who in turn stung him with a paralyzing poison. After failing to defeat Spider-Man, El Dorado returns to finish El Muerto’s life. However, Spider-Man swoops in and saves him in time.
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Bad Bunny is no stranger to wrestling as he won the WWE 24/7 championship and competed in several events including WrestleMania 37 and two Royal Rumble appearances. He also appeared as a recurring character in last year’s Narcos: Mexico. His next acting project will be Sony’s star-studded action thriller Bullet Train.
