DC's new Latino superhero film "Blue Beetle" announces casting and is in talks

The new DC Comics superhero film "Blue Beetle" has found a star: Xolo Maridueña ("Cobra") is in talks to play the young "Blue Beetle" Jaime Reyes.

The film is the first DC superhero blockbuster with a Latino protagonist. It will be directed by Angel Manuel Soto, the director of the new film "Street Racer" which received rave reviews at last year's Sundance Film Festival, and written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer ("Miss Congeniality" and the new version of "Scarface"). Previous news was that it hoped to start shooting this fall.

The film focuses on Jaime Reyes, a Mexican teenager living in Texas who picks up a blue scarab and transplants it into his spine, becoming a superhero with armor and the ability to create weapons at will. The blue beetle can fly, has enhanced strength and endurance, and can translate alien languages.