- Hawkgirl was briefly seen in the first trailer for Superman
- Isabela Merced has taken on the role of Hawkgirl
- Hawkgirl has a long and complex history in DC comics
When the first trailer for James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie dropped, one character briefly included was Hawkgirl, but who is she and what role could she play?
The hype for Superman, which hits cinemas next year, is ramping up – even more so now fans have had a first look at what is in the movie. The reboot of the DC Universe is eagerly anticipated and we are now getting an idea of what will be in the movie.
What we do know is that Superman won’t be the only superhero in the film – he will be supported by several others. This includes the Guy Gardner incarnation of Green Lantern – completed with bowl cut – Mister Terrific and Hawkgirl.
While Hawkgirl was only seen briefly in the trailer, it is thought that she could have a larger role in the Superman movie – as well as in the future of the DCU.
Who is playing Hawkgirl in Superman
Hawkgirl is played by Isabela Merced. Merced has experience with superhero films, having played Anya Corazon in the Sony Spider-Man Universe film Madame Web earlier this year.
She first came to prominence in the Nickelodeon show 100 Things To Do Before High School (2014-16) where she played the lead character, CJ Martin. More recently, she was in Alien: Romulus earlier this year.
What is Hawkgirl’s history
Hawkgirl has a long history in the DC comics and is well known also through animated series such as Justice League and Justice League Unlimited.
However, Hawkgirl’s history is complicated, as there have been several incarnations of the character, dating as far back as 1940, along with various retcons of her origin story – including being an Eygptian princess and from an alien race of hawk people. The three main Hawkgirls have been Shiera Sanders Hall, Shayera Hol and Kendra Saunders – and these have been adapted in various live-action and animated series, as well as video games in recent years.
Which version of Hawkgirl Merced is portraying hasn’t as yet been confirmed. However, her powers usually involve flight, as well as advanced combat skills, including the use of weapons such as a spear, mace or sword. She also has enhanced healing and regeneration abilities.
Future role in the DCU
Hawkgirl’s appearance in Superman could be a prelude to roles in other films. She has been part of various Justice League lineups and Gunn’s DCU appears to have characters from the Justic League in it.
In addition, in recent Justice League animated series, there have been romantic links between Hawkgirl and John Stewart’s Green Lantern. This version of the Green Lantern will appear in the forthcoming Lanterns series on HBO, which will also be part of the DCU.
