Xolo Maridueña, the fresh-faced actor that resonates on screen, has turned heads with his starring role in the new Blue Beetle movie. Connecting with Men’s Health for the September 2023 issue, the 22-year-old actor features in a photo shoot lensed by Elliot James Kennedy, where he sports Tommy Hilfiger’s iconic American style.
The significance of Blue Beetle is not lost on Maridueña, as he expressed the importance of its success, stating: “It’s not a lie that if this doesn’t do well, this type of movie isn’t going to happen again for a while. It’s important to open those doors. It’s not just for Blue Beetle—it’s for the tons of other superheroes, and cultures, and stories that we need to tell.”
Xolo Maridueña for Men’s Health
Addressing the expectations around the portrayal of Latino culture in the film, Maridueña adds perspective by emphasizing the uniqueness of the Latino experience: “It’s impossible to encapsulate a whole culture in one movie—that’s not really the point. Inherently, because of our writer, [Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer], the characters we’re looking at, the director, [Angel Manuel Soto], and the actors involved, it’ll be Latino.”
Xolo Maridueña’s excitement about his role in Blue Beetle is palpable as he recounted the surprising way he learned of his casting: “[It] ended up turning into a one-on-eight dinner with everyone from production on Blue Beetle. The director, Angel Manuel Soto, surprised me. He just popped the question right there. I just remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, my mom doesn’t know about this, like nobody [knows].’ I’m like, ‘I know a secret. I know something that other people don’t.'”
The physical transformation was vital for the role. Maridueña shares insights about the rigors of preparing for the part: “There was an added strength and an added amount of weight that I needed to put on for the suit and to make sure that my body could handle what it would be like to be in a suit and move around.”
Finally, reflecting on his career and willingness to explore uncharted territories, Maridueña conveys a thoughtful openness to the future: “I could have never imagined Cobra Kai. I could have never seen myself in that role. I’ve never seen myself in a superhero freaking role. I’ve been very blessed to have people around me that see things in me that maybe I don’t. So I’ll stay on the lookout.”
