Why Blue Beetle Originally Didn't Want to Cast George Lopez

While Blue Beetle's Uncle Rudy stood out as a fan-favorite character, the creative team originally didn't want to cast George Lopez.

Despite George Lopez's popularity, the creative team behind Blue Beetle originally envisioned a very different Uncle Rudy.

Speaking to Screen Rant, concept artist Phil Boutte revealed that the conspiracy theorist who serves as a mentor to Jaime Reyes originally had a very different look. "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," Boutte said. "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."

While Lopez's Uncle Rudy managed to win over many fans, Blue Beetle's early trailers managed to rile up some groups of fans after the character described Batman as a "fascist." The line in question raised many eyebrows from diehard followers of the Dark Knight, prompting star Xolo Maridueña to explain the intention. "If you felt some type of way about it, that was the point," he said. "So I think if you agree with it, if you don’t agree with it, it was placed there for a reason. And you know, all of the people who have their Batman shrines at home can keep them there and they don’t have to worry."

Defending Batman

Even Max Trujillo, who plays the villainous Carapax explained that he thinks Uncle Rudy's line makes perfect sense for Lopez's character as it exemplifies his attitude to wealthy individuals and their positions of power in society. "I think it was kind of, to me, it was a hidden message. Basically, f--k Batman, Blue Beetle! ... Because he comes from the elite," the actor said. "The elite will always protect the elite. In that regard, I guess I could see it. But either way, it's just a very funny line."

Blue Beetle chronicles the story of Jaime Reyes, a recent college graduate who comes into possession of a mysterious alien artifact known as The Scarab. After the device fuses with his body, it grants him a high-tech suit capable of turning itself into a variety of weapons, an attribute that puts both the hero and his family in direct conflict with the villainous Kord Industries.

Blue Beetle is now in theaters.