Which Hawkgirl is actually coming to the DC Universe? James Gunn speaks on which version of the character Isabela Merced will play in Superman.
It’s not often that comic book franchises, especially ones in the DC Universe, truly nail their castings. However, James Gunn seemed to have been on a roll when putting together the roster for Superman. No actress is a better example of this than Isabela Merced who, before fans have even seen her on the screen, is agreed to be the perfect pick to play Hawkgirl.
Yet as the months went on, people began to remember that Hawkgirl isn’t just a character, but a mantle shared by multiple people in the DC Universe. James Gunn never made it clear which incarnation of the character that Isabela Merced would be playing in Superman, with most of the internet remaining split between the camps of Kendra Saunders and Shiera Sanders-Hall.
James Gunn Sets The Hawkgirl Record Straight
This debate recently came to an end when James Gunn made a post celebrating Hawkgirl’s anniversary in the DC Universe. In the body of the post, Gunn confirmed that Isabela Merced would be playing the Kendra Saunders version of the character in Superman, not Shiera Sanders-Hall.
“Today is the anniversary of Kendra Saunders’ first appearance as #Hawkgirl! While Kendra took flight in JSA SECRET FILES #1 in 1999 under writers James Robinson and David S. Goyer and artists Louis Small Jr. and Michael Bair, Hawkgirl first hit stands in 1940 as Shiera Sanders-Hall in FLASH COMICS #1 written by Gardner Fox and drawn by Dennis Neville. So excited for @isabelamerced to don the wings in @Superman! (Art from Hawkgirl #2 by Adriano Lucas & Amancay Nahuelpan)”
It makes sense that Isabela Merced would be playing Kendra Saunders, especially since she’s been the main Hawkgirl mantle holder for many years now in the DC Universe. However, given how much lore has been put behind the cast of Superman, it wouldn’t be a shock if James Gunn had plans for Shiera Sanders-Hall down the line.
Superman is currently scheduled to hit theaters on July 11, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the DC Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
