Xolo Maridueña’s Rumored Marvel Casting Suggests He Took Ryan Reynolds’ Advice to Henry Cavill Seriously

Summary:

• Actor Xolo Maridueña made his superhero debut as Jaime Reyes, also known as Blue Beetle, in the DCEU film Blue Beetle.
• Despite the DCEU’s conclusion, James Gunn reassured fans that Maridueña would reprise his role in the new DC Universe.
• However, it appears that the actor has shifted gears, as he is now listed as a cast member in the upcoming Marvel series Nova.

Actor Xolo Maridueña has reportedly been cast in an undisclosed role in Marvel’s upcoming Nova series. The Cobra Kai star previously played Jaime Reyes, or Blue Beetle, in the DCEU film Blue Beetle, which received praise from fans and critics despite not performing well at the box office. He had assured fans he would return to the role soon.

James Gunn, who is leading the soft reboot of the DCEU, mentioned that many actors from the previous universe would return or take on new roles. Maridueña was thought to be among them, alongside John Cena and Viola Davis. However, this news suggests he may have switched over to Marvel.

#1. Xolo Maridueña Heeds Ryan Reynolds’ Advice To Henry Cavill And Joins Nova

Although Marvel released only one film this year, it made a big splash with Deadpool & Wolverine. Following a disappointing opening with The Marvels, the MCU achieved several records thanks to the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman movie. Staying true to the Deadpool franchise’s signature humor really paid off.

One of the film’s highlights was the numerous cameos, including Wesley Snipes as Blade, Channing Tatum as Gambit, and Chris Evans as Johnny Storm. A standout cameo came from former Superman Henry Cavill, who portrayed a variant of Wolverine.

Reynolds joked, “We’ll treat you so much better than those sh*tbucks down the street,” alluding to his time at DC.

Now, another DCEU actor appears to have taken this advice to heart and made the leap to Marvel. Xolo Maridueña, who portrayed Jaime Reyes, a.k.a. Blue Beetle, in the film of the same name, is reportedly cast in the MCU series Nova.

According to Production List, the series was written by Sabir Pirzada and features John C. Reilly and Tanner Gillman.

Xolo Maridueña has been cast in the ‘NOVA’ series.

(Via: https://t.co/3Dt6uW4daF) pic.twitter.com/RJdKx0Lfb6

— Marvel Updates (@marvel_updat3s) October 2, 2024

WE WILL TREAT YOU SO MUCH BETTER THAN THOSE SHITFUCKS DOWN THE STREET pic.twitter.com/Qk9WJY4XxF

— 4KT WHO YOU HATE (@royal_bobby24) October 2, 2024

THEY GOT XOLO TO BE IN A MOVIE LETS GOOOOO 😭

— Steam Deck Supremacy (@NotTrendel1) October 3, 2024

The upcoming series was hinted at by Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel’s Television, Streaming, and Animation division. He mentioned that the show is in development and expressed hopes of successfully exploring Nova’s lore in the series (via Phase Zero).

#2. Xolo Maridueña Assured Fans He Would Return As Blue Beetle

The DCEU has long struggled with mismanagement and shifting visions. With James Gunn now co-chief and overseeing a soft reboot of the shared universe, the issues seem to be addressed. However, this change also means that many upcoming DCEU films may feel somewhat pointless.

While films like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The Flash received poor responses, Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle was praised despite its low box office numbers. Many fans appreciated the actor’s performance and felt disappointed that it might be for nothing with the upcoming reboot. However, Maridueña reassured fans that he would return soon (via Screen Rant).

“I know we’ll see Blue Beetle again, whether it comes in the form of Blue Beetle 2 or wherever. It’s been really great to work alongside James [Gunn] and Peter [Safran], who have graciously folded us into their new universe even though it wasn’t part of what they came up with. It’s an honor. Now, where Blue Beetle heads in the future? I don’t know. But I can confidently say that we will see him soon.”

The actor is also reportedly involved in an animated series focused on the character (via CBR). However, this statement was made a few months ago, prior to his rumored role in Marvel’s Nova.