Hawkgirl Unveiled: Unlocking the Secrets of Superman's Mighty Ally

James Gunn and Peter Safran are set to reboot the DC Universe with the film "Superman: Legacy." In addition to introducing various other heroes to the big screen, they have confirmed that Hawkgirl will be appearing in the movie. Alongside Hawkgirl, the film will also introduce Green Lantern, Mister Terrific, and Metamorpho. The choice of which version of Hawkgirl to bring to the screen will likely shape the direction of the character's storyline. Given the lineup of heroes, it seems possible that Gunn and Safran may be developing a Justice Society narrative, with Hawkgirl possibly becoming a member who either teams up with or opposes the new Superman, played by David Corenswet.

The Complicated DC History Of Hawkgirl

The first Hawkgirl was created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville for Flash Comics in 1940. However, it took another year for Shiera Sanders Hall to don the iconic Hawkgirl costume. Alongside Hawkman, they formed a dynamic superhero duo and were portrayed as ancient Egyptians with incredible abilities.

In the 1960s, a new incarnation of the character named Shayera Hol was introduced. Both Hawkgirl and Hawkman were reimagined as aliens from the planet Thanagar, no longer connected to their Egyptian heritage. Not only were they law enforcement officers from Thanagar, but they were also married. Their purpose in visiting Earth was to study its diverse policing systems, resulting in a vastly different backstory. Eventually, this version of Hawkgirl altered her superhero identity to Hawkwoman.

The reason for the two different versions of the characters is DC's multiverse. One pair exists on Earth-1, while the other resides on Earth-2. However, Hawkgirl's backstory was altered with the Crisis on Infinite Earths event in 1985. This event merged parts of the multiverse, eliminating multiple character variations. Regardless of the version, Hawkgirl derives much of her power from a Nth metal belt. Prolonged exposure to this material can augment a person's super abilities.

Another iteration of Hawkgirl, named Kendra Saunders, was introduced in DC Comics. Kendra is the granddaughter of the original Hawkgirl's cousin and has a connection to the original Hawkgirl storyline. After Kendra took her own life, the soul of the original Hawkgirl transferred into her body, granting her new abilities and allowing her to continue living. This particular version of Hawkgirl was most recently featured in the series Legends of Tomorrow. While it has not been officially confirmed, it is likely that this version of Hawkgirl will appear in Superman: Legacy.

Who Is Playing Hawkgirl In Superman: Legacy?

Isabela Merced has been cast as Hawkgirl in the upcoming film Superman: Legacy. This announcement was made by Vanity Fair. Merced, who gained recognition for her portrayal of a live-action teenage Dora the Explorer in Dora and the Lost City of Gold, has had previous experience in superhero movies and major franchises.

One of Merced's notable roles was in Transformers: The Last Knight alongside Mark Wahlberg, although she has not been involved in any subsequent Transformers films. Additionally, she will be playing a character in an upcoming Marvel movie, specifically Sony's Madame Web. While the details of her character have not been confirmed, speculation suggests that she may be portraying one of the individuals who have taken on the mantle of Spider-Woman, such as Anya Corazon. Given Merced's experience in action films and her involvement with comic book characters, her role as Hawkgirl should be both enjoyable and familiar for her.

Does This Mean Hawkman Will Still Be In The DCU?

James Gunn and Peter Safran are rebooting the DC Universe with Superman: Legacy, but certain actors and characters from previous projects will carry on. John Cena will continue to portray Peacemaker in upcoming DCU projects, despite The Suicide Squad not being part of the new DCU canon. It remains uncertain if actors like Aldis Hodge, who made their DC debuts in Black Adam as Hawkman, will make appearances. Additionally, it is unclear if Hawkgirl, portrayed by an unconfirmed actress, will have any connection to Hawkman. Although Gunn has not confirmed Hodge's appearance in future projects, he has been cast as the lead character in the Amazon Prime series Cross, based on the Alex Cross detective novels by James Patterson. Hodge's schedule may be packed if the series proves successful on the streaming platform.

Superman: Legacy isn’t expected to hit theaters until 2025, so there could still be plenty more casting announcements on the way.