Miguel Soto Celebrates Blue Beetle : Famous Puerto Rican director Miguel Manuel Soto recognized Blue Beetle, DC’s first Latino-focused superhero film, was a significant deal and an honor.
“We don’t often get the chance to tell these kinds of stories, especially when we’re mostly supporting characters in big movies,” he explains.
Blue Beetle introduces 22-year-old Jaime Reyes, played by Cobra Kai star Xolo Mariduea. As the first in his family to graduate college, he returns to Palmera City. The city looks different because growth changed his family’s business and childhood home. The oldest, Jaime, must work hard to support his family and find his calling until he meets Jenny Kord, the CEO’s niece, at Kord Industries, a sudden turn in his love life. Jaime and his family are transformed when he receives a bright blue scarab with alien technology.
Soto painstakingly depicted a close-knit Mexican American family in Blue Beetle, starring a predominantly Mexican ensemble. “Our story resonated because it was authentic to our Latino roots,” he explains. “Many things on-screen mirror the cast’s real-life experiences, showing their Latino roots.”
The movie doesn’t overplay the Latino card, says Soto. Instead, it celebrates their uniqueness. “Why not celebrate our differences, be ourselves, and prove superheroes can look like us?” Jaime is a hero because he always supports his family.
Read More : Blue Beetle Movie: A Refreshing Take on Superhero Storytelling
Jaime’s family connection to his superpowers is fascinating in Blue Beetle. “It’s almost impossible to hide anything from a Latina mother,” jokes Soto.
After the scarab picks him, Jaime becomes Blue Beetle. This makes him the perfect hero: a family-oriented champion for the regular people. His family includes a watchful mother, practical father, insistent grandmother, weird uncle, and straight-talking sibling. They guide Jaime and influence his change. Each member travels on a different adventure, demonstrating that genuine heroism is self-discovery.
The movie’s most Latino aspect is the Reyes family’s deep bond, not the cultural issues.
Blue Beetle is avoiding large debuts since the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are ongoing. For Soto, this voyage alone is sad and joyous. “I carry their spirits with me,” he says, referring to the group’s collaboration throughout filming.
Mariduea’s first DC appearance was essential, especially since Soto’s film is DC Studios’ first superhero film under James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Soto explains their absence: “Their fight for fair pay and equal treatment is the most important thing, even if it means putting immediate successes on the back burner.”
Blue Beetle took patience and much labor to create. Soto wants box office success and more. “If the youth can see themselves in these stories, feel acknowledged and gain power, it’s life-changing,” he says. “We’ve been told to hide our true selves for ages. It was refreshing to embrace my self.”
Blue Beetle was supposed to broadcast on Max with another Leslie Grace project. Warner Bros.’s decision and hefty budget pushed for a theatrical release.
Hopeful and ambitious, Soto concludes, “We can write compelling stories. We can be happy and heroic in our stories.
Our Reader’s Queries
What do Mexicans think of Blue Beetle?
BLUE BEETLE has received a 90% positive score from its audience, with 38% of them being Latino/Hispanic, as per PostTrak. While these numbers are relatively good, the opening day gross suggests that the raw number is not impressive.
Was Blue Beetle always Latino?
According to Soto, the creators aimed to pay homage to their forefathers by crafting a heartfelt tribute. However, the initial Blue Beetle persona, Dan Garrett, an archaeologist who first appeared in 1939, lacked any Latino heritage.
Did they film Blue Beetle in Puerto Rico?
Blue Beetle takes place in the fictional city of Palmera and was filmed in Miami, Atlanta, and Puerto Rico. This standalone story is not part of the DC Extended Universe but features numerous references to Mexican culture, albeit with some stereotypes. The show offers a unique and refreshing social perspective that is sure to captivate audiences.
Does Blue Beetle take place in Florida?
The movie tracks the journey of Jaime Reyes, portrayed by Xolo Maridueña of “Cobra Kai” fame. After completing his college education, he comes back to the make-believe Palmera City, which appears to be modeled after Miami, Florida.