Xolo Maridueña Confirms Blue Beetle's Return for Superman Sequel Man of Tomorrow

Xolo Maridueña is set to reprise his role as the superhero Blue Beetle in the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, according to a report from Variety. The film is currently in production under writer-director James Gunn.

Maridueña first portrayed Jaime Reyes, a recent college graduate bonded with an alien scarab, in the 2023 film Blue Beetle. Gunn had previously confirmed on a podcast that Maridueña's character holds a special place in the new cinematic universe. "The first DCU character, for sure, Blue Beetle, and the first full DCU movie is ‘Superman,'" Gunn said.

Who else is in the cast?

The sequel will feature David Corenswet returning as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as his adversary, Lex Luthor. The plot will force the two to team up against a larger threat, the super-intelligent villain Brainiac, played by Lars Eidinger. Other confirmed cast members include Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl.

What did producers say about Maridueña?

When Maridueña was originally cast, DC Studios co-chair Peter Safran praised the actor's range to Variety. "What I was most impressed by is his ability with both the comedic and the emotional material," Safran said. "He has all the skills." He called the 2023 performance "a star-making performance."

For his part, Maridueña expressed immense pride in representing the Latino community in a landmark superhero role. He also joked about his physical preparation, noting he was ready to get even bigger for future films. Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for release in theaters on July 9, 2027.