Susan Sarandon Joining DC’s ‘Blue Beetle’ Movie

Susan Sarandon in 2015's 'The Meddler.'

There’s a change afoot for an upcoming DC comic book movie. Though Sharon Stonehad been in talks to play the villainous Victoria Kord in ‘Blue Beetle’, it appears her deal didn’t work out. That, or she’s a little too afraid of bugs.

Still, the producers have found someone else to take on the role: Susan Sarandon, reports The Wrap.

For the movie, ‘Cobra Kai’s Xolo Maridueña is playing main man Jaime Reyes, and the cast also features George Lopez (as Jaime’s uncle), Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar, Belissa Escobedo, Bruna Marquezine and ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ stalwart Harvey Guillén.

‘Charm City Kings’ director Angel Manuel Soto is overseeing the new movie, with Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, who penned a recent version of ‘Scarface’ for Universal, writing the script.

Originally created by artist Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski and writer Will Eisner for Fox Comics' 'Mystery Men Comics' in 1939, Blue Beetle was introduced as Dan Garret, a vigilante who fought crime using powers gained from chemical compound Vitamin 2-X, though that origin was later retconned to an archeologist with a suit and abilities derived from the alien Khaji Da scarab living weapon. He was succeeded by tech whizz Ted Kord, first appearing in Charlton Comics (which bought Fox and was itself later taken over by DC).

DC Comics' Blue Beetle. Photo courtesy of DC Comics.

The Jaime Reyes version, a creation of Keith Giffen, John Rogers and Cully Hamner for 2006's 'Infinite Crisis' Issue #5, spawned a titular title two months later in May of that year. In his story, Reyes discovered the Blue Beetle scarab on the way home from school with two of his best friends Paco and Brenda, half-buried in a disused lot.

Reyes took the scarab home, curious as to what it might be. That night, the scarab came alive, and grafted itself to the base of Jaime’s spine, and provided him with a suit of extraterrestrial armor, which can be modified to enhance his speed and strength, as well as to create weapons, wings, and shields.

Sarandon’s role is a new one, created for the movie, but that Kord surname already suggests a connection to second Blue Beetle Ted Kord – speculation has it that she’ll play his wife, though there is nothing official at this time.

This is perhaps unexpected casting – Sarandon doesn’t have any superhero movies on her resume (though she’s enjoyed an eclectic career), while Stone had at least played the antagonist in ‘Catwoman’. Still, casting someone like Sarandon assures a solid performance.

Last seen in indie movie ‘Ride the Eagle’, Sarandon has a few projects in the works, including delayed country music TV drama ‘Monarch’.

As for ‘Blue Beetle’, the movie will fly into theaters on August 18, 2023.