In fantastic news for DC Universe fans, Isabela Merced will play the famous character Kendra Saunders, popularly known as Hawkgirl,
in James Gunn's upcoming Superman film, and she can't wait to fly. Speaking with Collider's Christina Radish while promoting her new film,
Turtles All the Way Down, Merced expressed her excitement about entering the ranks of superhero legends and reunited with Gunn, a filmmaker who played an important role in her formative movie experiences.
Reflecting on her casting as Hawkgirl, Merced characterized the experience as "so cool" and a "full circle moment," referring to her childhood memories of playing with DC action figures like Hawkgirl and Hawkman.
"I was a DC kid growing up. We had action figures, and the most of them were so old and mistreated that the paint had worn off... But I adored Hawkgirl. I had Hawkgirl and Hawkman in my collection.
Well, technically, it was not mine. It was mine and my siblings' collection. We had Hot Wheels, too. We had a really joyful, enjoyable childhood with them. So this is a full circle situation.
Isabela Merced credits James Gunn as one of her childhood heroes. Her enthusiasm extended to working with Gunn, whom she admires for his contributions to her favorite childhood
films, as well as his distinct vision and leadership in the production process. "James Gunn also curated a lot of my favorite childhood movies, like the Scooby Doo movies," she told me.