Xolo Maridueña Teases His Smurfy Sidekick & Blue Beetle Update

The Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory (BHAC) transformed into a colorful tribute to the beloved SMURFS as local kids “smurfed” out the space with their own SMURFS-inspired art and a collaborative mural. The special event, held ahead of SMURFS hitting theaters everywhere on July 18th, brought together young artists from community groups including East LA Rising, Variety Big Brothers Big Sisters, and BHAC students.

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The surprise highlight of the day was an appearance by Xolo Maridueña, who voices Brainy Smurf in the upcoming film. Maridueña was honored during the event with Certificates of Gratitude from several Los Angeles officials, recognizing his commitment to giving back to local communities. Representatives present or acknowledged included Councilwoman Ysabel Jurardo, Congressman Jimmy Gomez, Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez, Senator Maria Elena Durazo, and retired Senator Richard Polanco.

Speaking with us at the event, Maridueña opened up about how he relates to Brainy Smurf, sharing that he admires Brainy’s curiosity and love of fun facts—qualities he sees in himself. When asked which of his own characters he’d pick as a sidekick for a day—Brainy Smurf, Miguel from Cobra Kai, or Blue Beetle—he didn’t hesitate:

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“Right now, I’m picking Brainy Smurf ‘cause he fits in my pocket. The dude’s a good chat—I love a fun fact, and I’m sure he’s got plenty. He’d be a good double dater too, so Brainy’s getting the invite this time. But Blue Beetle’s a close second.”

Of course, fans were eager to hear what’s next for Jaime Reyes, aka Blue Beetle. Maridueña shared how he first fell in love with the character:

“One of the ways I was introduced to Blue Beetle was through the animated show Young Justice, which had this really cool crew of young superheroes fighting everyday street villains. I loved that. Even the movie—his family was the team for sure. I always love getting to work as part of a team. Anywhere where the whole group uplifts you is where I want to be. We definitely have ideas for a second one—we’d love to do a sequel.”

He also teased what fans can expect from the upcoming Blue Beetle animated series:

“Because it’s animated, Pandora’s box is open—we can do flashbacks, we can focus whole episodes on characters we liked in the movie but didn’t get enough backstory on. Ángel [Manuel Soto] and the greater Blue Beetle creative team are huge anime fans too, so I’m really excited for some of the fight sequences we’re cooking up.”

With a new SMURFS adventure on the horizon, an expanding Blue Beetle universe, and his continued dedication to uplifting his hometown, Maridueña proves he’s every bit as brainy—and big-hearted—as the characters he brings to life.

The new SMURFS movie arrives in theaters July 18th. For more updates and tickets, visit the official SMURFS site.