Movies

After ‘Cobra Kai,’ Xolo Maridueña is ready for his next challenge

BBG News

As a fan of both “Cobra Kai” and “Blue Beetle,” I’m absolutely blown away by Xolo Maridueña’s impressive journey in Hollywood. His dedication to his craft, starting from his formative years at Casa 0101, is truly inspiring.

I was thrilled to my core when I received not one, but two calls from the producers of “Cobra Kai” on that fateful day. The thought that I would be a part of this highly-anticipated spinoff series, set three decades after the iconic “The Karate Kid” movie ended, left me speechless and overjoyed.

The initial casting choice was made by showmakers Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, who announced that they had selected Miguel Diaz, a tough teenager from Reseda, to portray the lead character. This young man learns martial arts as a means of self-defense after being tormented by bullies.

Maridueña, then 16, couldn’t believe his luck.

“Wow, I can’t believe it,” the young woman expressed during her Zoom call, retelling the events of the afternoon as if she were narrating a live sports broadcast.

Then, his phone rang again. This time, it was Ralph Macchio, the karate kid himself.

“Is this Zolo?” asked Macchio.

As a cinephile looking back, I can’t help but chuckle at how my co-star mispronounced my name back then (“sho-low” instead of “Maridueña”). At that moment, however, I was so engrossed in making sure my phone call didn’t disconnect (with only 1% battery left) that I couldn’t correct him. In Macchio’s eyes, I might have appeared as an unmannerly kid who’d hung up on him. And if the call did drop, there was a strong possibility that they would replace me before filming even started.

In the end, the bleakest possible outcome didn’t materialize, as Maridueña has proven time and again that he is nothing like a spoiled youngster. Instead, he was perfectly suited for a character arc that transformed him from an awkward teenager into a mature adult. After six long years, the actor is preparing to bid farewell to Miguel Diaz – the initial installment of the final season of “Cobra Kai” became available on Netflix this week, with the second half due out November 15, and the conclusion predicted for some time in 2025.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can tell you that from the very beginning, there was an undeniable charm about him which instantly captured our hearts. And I, for one, was utterly captivated. It didn’t take long before we knew – with absolute certainty – that he was the perfect Miguel for us in the “The Karate Kid” Netflix series. William Zabka, who brings Johnny Lawrence to life on screen, perfectly encapsulates this feeling.

“Macchio described him as tall and gangly, reminiscent of the way his own LaRusso character was portrayed. From the very beginning, he was an ideal fit.”

Mariduena played a significant part in the show, carrying the burden of representing one of the few Latino characters. The writers deliberately created Miguel to align with the San Fernando Valley’s diverse population. They collaborated with Maridueña to enhance his character’s storyline, focusing on his Ecuadorian background, as he identifies with Mexican, Cuban, and Ecuadorian heritages.

He noted that they genuinely didn’t know much about Miguel’s culture, and this was a common issue across the industry.

In Los Angeles, where Maridueña grew up in El Sereno, one out of every two people is Latino. However, in Hollywood’s film industry setting, this representation is noticeably lacking – if you were to throw a rock on a movie set, it’s likely that fewer than half of the people hit would be Latino.

He also credits the writers for not making Miguel one-dimensional.

Maridueña emphasized the significance of portraying characters without focusing on their ethnicity as the defining factor. He explained, “We need more of such roles that allow individuals to fully embody their character, rather than being defined solely by their ethnic background. Over time, as we become accustomed to seeing diverse representations, it will become the norm.”

Although he’s quite elderly, this actor has extensive experience in bringing intricate Latino characters to life on screen. Before his role in “Cobra Kai,” he breathed vitality into the character of Victor Graham in the widely-watched NBC series “Parenthood.” He also spent a significant amount of time perfecting his art at Casa 0101, a renowned Boyle Heights theater company established by the playwright of “Real Women Have Curves,” Josefina López.

Edward Padilla, ex-lead youth educator at Casa 0101 and a family acquaintance, shared his observation: “He entered the task with great humility and absence of arrogance.” Or, “He began the project with a modest attitude and no airs about him.” Furthermore, Edward noted, “He was fully committed and open to learning and adapting to the responsibilities he assumed.”

Maridueña’s passion for acting can be traced back to his family members who are actively involved in the arts community, according to Padilla. His younger sister, Oshún Ramirez, has lent her voice to Disney’s “Future-Worm!”, while his mother, Carmelita Ramirez-Sanchez, heads the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory. Additionally, his father, Omar G. Ramirez, is a renowned Chicano artist.

According to Padilla, the family encouraged him to broaden his horizons and try new experiences instead of sticking with what he was used to.

Maridueña’s face brightens when Casa 0101 is brought up, and he suggests he might direct a play there in the future if offered the chance, with “Cobra Kai” nearing completion.

In my heart, I deeply acknowledge the profound impact of the community that nurtured me, El Sereno in Los Angeles. My family, friends, Casa 0101, and everyone else who played a role in shaping my upbringing have given me the precious gift of feeling at ease with who I am. They allowed me to be authentically myself.

During Maridueña’s career advancement, Padilla expresses his hope that his ex-pupil won’t feel pressured to consistently carry the responsibility of portraying his community in media.

Padilla expressed the importance of selecting projects that genuinely inspire and uplift an individual. By doing so, we can collectively create a significant impact.

In addition, Maridueña brought depth and intrigue to the representation of Latino culture through his portrayal of Jaime Reyes in “Blue Beetle” (2021), marking a milestone as the initial live-action superhero film led by a Latino actor. Much like Jaime was selected by the scarab bestowing him with extraordinary abilities, Maridueña was meticulously chosen for this pioneering role.

Angel Manuel Soto, affectionately calling his lead actor Maridueña “mijo” or “my son,” shared, “I believed it was Xolo, it had to be Xolo.” Working with him, according to the “Blue Beetle” director, was a long-cherished dream. He was taken aback by Maridueña’s charm, skill, zest, and humility – traits that set him apart as an exceptional actor.

“Soto praised Maridueña’s dedication, stating that he not only pushed himself to the limit by performing most of his own stunts but also prepared meticulously on challenging days. This was largely due to Maridueña’s background in martial arts training for ‘Cobra Kai’,” is a possible paraphrase.

The release of “Blue Beetle” came with historical significance, but unfortunately, it coincided with the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes in Hollywood. As a result, Mariduena and his co-stars were unable to participate in promotional activities for the film.

Regardless of whether there was a strike or not, Maridueña’s family, friends, and community showed strong support for the film’s debut. The Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, headed by his mother, arranged free screenings of “Blue Beetle” in Alhambra, Montebello, and Hollywood.

“Ramirez-Sanchez explained to The Times last year that this is our expression of acknowledging your inability to lead, but wanting you to understand the support you have from countless others. When one of us is absent, we collectively lose some strength.”

Maridueña had good reason to be disillusioned with the way “Blue Beetle” was rolled out. But rather than becoming jaded, he decided to zero in on the film’s achievements instead.

“During our talks with Angel, he shared his belief that this was something beyond our control. This notion left a profound impact on me and shaped the film’s production process.”

When discussing “Blue Beetle,” Maridueña recalls how his initial apprehension about making a misstep on camera gave way to a feeling of accomplishment.

He confessed, “The moment I settled into that chair for my initial screening, a deep-rooted fear gripped me.” “What if I don’t measure up?” he pondered, “And what if this experience turns out to be disastrous?”

After watching the film, the love portrayed felt incredibly strong. I was overwhelmed with the thought, “Wow, my family will be so proud to see themselves represented on screen.” This movie aims to introduce a new generation to a hero who looks like them.

Despite devoting a significant portion of his life to acting, Maridueña manages to carve out time for self-expression outside of the limelight. His passions include photography, where he captures moments with friends during their food adventures using a Leica Q2. He also dons the hat of a relationship expert on the popular podcast “Lone Lobos,” which he co-hosts with his “Cobra Kai” acting buddy and best friend Jacob Bertrand. Furthermore, he has explored music by releasing a hip-hop track in October last year.

Maridueña is involved in multiple acting projects. He’ll be appearing alongside Al Pacino in the upcoming thriller “Killing Castro,” and he’s also joining an illustrious cast for the release of “The Smurfs Movie” next year.

“I’m deeply grateful to have been a part of the ‘Cobra Kai’ team for the past seven years. It’s also been a significant period of growth for me personally,” he expressed.

“I’m ready to show what I’ve learned in other spaces now.”

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2024-07-26 14:21

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