It looks like Superman won’t be the only superhero on the block in Superman: Legacy. The David Corenswet-led film has recently added three new faces to its roster — each portraying an iconic character from DC Comics. Among these new cast members is Isabela Merced, who will be performing the superheroine known as Hawkgirl.
Who is DC’s Hawkgirl?
Well, that’s a bit of a tricky question to answer. Hawkgirl — not to be confused with Hawkwoman — is often portrayed as a romantic partner of Hawkman (who was recently played by Aldis Hodge in Black Adam). The two characters have something of a complicated history. In some versions of their origins, the two are reincarnated Egyptian lovers. This version of the character goes by Shiera Sanders Hall, and since she’s human, her wings are artificial.
However, in other incarnations, the character is Shayera Hol — an alien from the planet Thanagar, where she and her partner, Katar Hol, are police officers. After ending up on Earth, the two become superheroes, and since they’re aliens, their wings are real and attached to their bodies.
On the other hand, the Kendra Saunders incarnation is a modern-day Latina who is possessed by Shiera Hall. You might say this is a fairly convoluted origin, but hey, that’s comics for you. Regardless of the incarnation, Hawkgirl is known for wielding a mace made out of Nth metal, a super-strong, super-light material.
It’s unknown which version of the character will be portrayed in the film, but Gunn has a wide array of options to choose from. Although the Thanagarian origin may give her more of a connection with Superman, it might also take away from his Kryptonian origin. We’ll have to wait and hear more before we can draw any conclusions.
Who’s portraying Hawkgirl in Superman: Legacy?
Isabela Merced has been tapped to bring Hawkgirl to life. Merced was previously professionally known as Isabela Moner, and she’s been acting since the age of 12. The Peruvian-American actress has previously portrayed Dora the Explorer in the live-action film Dora and the Lost City of Gold, and her roots with Nickelodeon run deep. She previously starred on the Nick sitcom 100 Things to Do Before High School, Splitting Adam, and Legends of the Hidden Temple.
Her post-Nickelodeon career includes films such as Transformers: The Last Knight, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, and Father of the Bride. She’s also a singer, with songs like “Agonia,” “Don’t Go,” and “Better With You” under her belt. Oh, and did we mention that she’s the lead for the next Alien film? Safe to say she’s on the rise — Gunn was wise to pick her quickly.