Summary
- George Lopez was not the original choice for the role of Rudy Reyes in Blue Beetle, but his performance brought both heart and comedy relief to the character.
- The bond between Jaime Reyes and his family is a key element of Blue Beetle, setting him apart from other heroes and providing support and motivation.
- Lopez’s portrayal of Rudy Reyes adds an infectious excitement and love for the legacy of Blue Beetle, making it difficult to imagine anyone else in the role.
Blue Beetle concept artist Phil Boutte reveals that George Lopez was not who the creative team anticipated to play Rudy Reyes. In Blue Beetle, an ancient alien artifact, the Scarab, unexpectedly chooses Jaime Reyes, a recent college graduate, to be its new host. Through this symbiotic relationship, Jaime steps into the role of superhero Blue Beetle, gaining a near-indestructible exoskeleton suit along with a number of other abilities. However, Victoria Kord has much darker intentions for the Scarab, and Jaime must fight to protect his family and the world from her violent ambitions.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant for Blue Beetle, Boutte revealed that Lopez’s casting was a surprise. He shared what the team was initially envisioning for the character, but also that Lopez still worked. His creative partner, Mike Uwandi, jumped in to praise Lopez in the role. Check out Boutte’s full quote below: Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the movie covered here would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
Phil Boutte: Actually one of the things that was a surprise for us was George Lopez. Lopez, they had him in mind, but it wasn’t initially him. It was going to be somebody that was skinnier and wiry.
His look, the mullet and all that? Just imagine an aged Mexican rocker. And then George came in, and then Mayes was doing the fittings with him and everything and going back and forth and they were finding his character. Those elements strangely still worked and it was just hilarious.
Mike Uwandi: Yeah, he killed that role.
Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the movie covered here would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
How The Family Is The Key To Blue Beetle
Superhero origin stories have become a common staple of the genre. However, the key to any movie or series is figuring out how to make the hero and their story stand out from others. The key to Blue Beetle is the Reyes family. Jaime’s bond with his family and their willingness to help immediately set him apart from other heroes, many of whom either have tumultuous relationships with their families or hide their superhero identities.
Lopez’s performance as Rudy Reyes brings both heart and comedy relief to Blue Beetle, which helps break the tension in some of the scenes. His intelligence and love for Jaime motivate his actions, and his excitement upon discovering that Ted Kord was the previous Blue Beetle is infectious. While he wasn’t the initial choice, it’s hard to imagine anyone else filling this role.
Although he’s reluctant to step into the role of hero, that choice is taken from him very quickly when he learns his bond with the Scarab will be something he contends with for the rest of his life. The best parts of Jaime, including his heroic heart and desire to do good, clearly stem from his family. Showing how he has been influenced by them and their continued support, along with how they consistently work together, makes Blue Beetle stand out from other superhero origin stories.
