One of DC's upcoming productions just got a bit of a shake-up. But don't worry, it isn't the kind of shake-up that results in the theatrical cut of Justice League. This time, a widely speculated theory based on solid evidence has been thoroughly turned on its head, resulting in a surprise addition to a future film.
DC's Blue Beetle movie has just signed Susan Sarandon, star of Thelma & Louise and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, to play the villain Victoria Kord. While this news is pleasantly unexpected, particularly to fans of the actress, the real shock comes from a near certainty that Basic Instinct and Casino star Sharon Stone was actually going to take the role. In fact, her talks with the studio appeared to be such a sure thing that many outlets reported her casting in Blue Beetle as confirmed.
Luckily, this one feels more like the real deal, as The Wrap now reports that Sarandon has officially closed the deal to star in the film. What's particularly interesting is that all this confusion isn't even for a pre-established character from DC Comics. Victoria Kord is actually a completely original villain who will make her debut in the upcoming Blue Beetle film. So presumably, that leaves Sarandon with a nice blank slate to work with.
Blue Beetle will be DC Films' first film starring a Latine character, starring Cobra Kai star Xolo Maridueña as teenager Jaime Reyes, the titular hero. Angel Manuel Soto, director of Charm City Kings, has signed on to direct. They'll both be joined by a predominantly Latine cast, including George Lopez and What We Do in the Shadows star Harvey Guillén. God Save the King's Bruna Marquezine has also joined the cast as Reyes' love interest, Penny.
In the DC Comics continuity, Blue Beetle refers to several characters who have taken on the superhero name. But the upcoming film will exclusively feature Maridueña's Jaime Reyes. Reyes discovers a curious scarab while walking home from school with his friends, only to discover after taking it home that it's actually a powerful alien artifact. It fuses itself to his body, granting him a versatile suit of armor that enhances his abilities and allows him to create weapons at will.
There do seem to be a lot of superhero stories nowadays featuring teens discovering their new powers, with The CW's Naomi being one notable example. But that doesn't mean the formula is stale. In fact, Blue Beetle has a number of opportunities to really set itself apart from the rest, both in terms of its cast as well as its storytelling style. The movie has over a year of waiting before its release, but that just means all the more time to get excited.
Blue Beetle is set to release on August 18th, 2023 in theaters.
Source: The Wrap