Actress Isabela Merced is thrilled to announce her role as Hawkgirl in Superman: Legacy. This news holds special significance for Merced as it coincided with her birthday. She took to Instagram to express her excitement, posting a picture of Hawkgirl and referring to the announcement as the best birthday gift. Merced also expressed her admiration for DC Studios co-CEO and director James Gunn.
In addition to Merced, two other actors have been confirmed for the Superman: Legacy cast. Nathan Fillion will be playing Green Lantern Guy Gardner, while Edi Gathegi has been cast as Mister Terrific. The specific version of Hawkgirl that Merced will portray has yet to be revealed.
Hawkgirl has a complex history in DC Comics, with multiple heroines taking on the mantle. The original Hawkgirl was Shiera Sanders, an Egyptian queen reincarnated in the modern world. The second Hawkgirl was Shayera Hol, an alien peacekeeper from Thanagar. However, the most likely candidate for Merced’s portrayal is Kendra Saunders, a troubled young Hispanic woman who ultimately became the modern Hawkgirl.
Kendra’s story involves the soul of Chay-Ara, the original Hawkgirl, taking over her body while retaining Kendra’s memories and personality. This created confusion when Hawkman returned from the dead, as Kendra had no memory of their shared experiences. It’s unclear how much of Kendra’s original backstory will be integrated into Superman: Legacy.
Given the dark and complicated nature of Kendra’s story, it’s unlikely that it will be fully explored in the film. Director James Gunn may choose to introduce a new version of Hawkgirl that combines Kendra’s appearance with Shayera Hol’s background. Regardless of the character’s specific origins, Isabela Merced is excited to bring Hawkgirl to life in the film.
