By Bel Hernandez Castillo

As Superman opens in theaters today, audiences will see the arrival of a new generation of DC heroes—and among them, Isabela Merced is stepping into the spotlight. The 23-year-old actress makes her debut as Kendra Saunders, a.k.a. Hawkgirl, in the latest installment of the franchise, marking her first foray into the superhero genre.

Born Isabela Yolanda Moner in Cleveland, Ohio, to a Peruvian mother and American father, Merced grew up speaking Spanish as her first language and often spent summers in Peru. Her stage name, Merced, honors her late grandmother and her family’s heritage—a gesture that reflects how deeply her culture influences her identity. She made her Broadway debut at 10 in Evita, performing alongside Ricky Martin. Shortly after, she found success on Nickelodeon, starring in 100 Things to Do Before High School.

She transitioned to feature films with roles in Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018), and Instant Family (2018). Her breakout role came in 2019 when she played the title character in Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Since then Merced has been quite busy.  In the past two years, Merced has expanded her portfolio, appearing in projects such as Madame Web, Turtles All the Way Down, and Alien: Romulus (all released in 2024).

The casting of Merced is a significant moment for representation in comic book adaptations. She becomes one of only a handful of Latina actresses to take on a major superhero role in a live-action film, joining names like Zoe Saldaña (Guardians of the Galaxy), Salma Hayek (Eternals), and Xochitl Gomez (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness).

Hawkgirl is part of director James Gunn’s new “Gods and Monsters” slate for the DC Universe, with Merced set to reprise the role in future projects. The character Hawkgirl is part of the Justice Gang, a group of corporate-sponsored heroes that don’t exactly share Superman’s morals. Hawkgirl makes the first major big-screen appearance and the buzz is that there will be more of Hawkgirl in future sequels.

Earlier this year, she joined HBO’s hit series The Last of Us as Dina, a key character introduced in Season 2. Her performance has been widely praised and is expected to continue in future seasons.

Taking Flight as Hawkgirl

In Superman, Merced’s Hawkgirl is a winged warrior and archaeologist, reimagined with organic, feathered wings and a strong physical presence. The actress underwent extensive stunt and wire work to bring the character to life and has hinted at Hawkgirl’s larger role in the DC Universe moving forward.

Merced has expressed joy about exploring the character further, including potential storylines involving Green Lantern, with whom Hawkgirl has had romantic ties in the comics.

Merced’s trajectory is poised to become a fixture in both blockbuster franchises and prestige television. In addition to her ongoing work in The Last of Us, she is expected to appear in upcoming DC films as part of Gunn’s connected universe. With a growing list of credits across genres and platforms, Merced’s transition from child star to leading actress marks her as one of Hollywood’s rising talents.

DC Studios’ Superman is a A James Gunn Film.  A Troll Court Entertainment/The Safran Company Production, which will be in theaters and IMAX® nationwide on July 11, 2025, and internationally beginning 9 July 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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Written by Julio Martinez

The highly anticipated second season of the HBO Original The Last of Us, the American post-apocalyptic drama series, is set to premiere on Sunday, April 13 at 9 PM ET/PT. The series, based on the popular video game franchise created by Naughty Dog, LLC, is written and executive produced by Neil Druckmann and directed by Craig Mazin.

Set two decades into a devastating global pandemic caused by a fungal infection that turns humans into aggressive, zombie-like creatures, The Last of Us explores a world where society has crumbled—and the fight for survival reveals both the best and worst of humanity.

At a recent press conference, Druckmann, Mazin, and the cast gathered to discuss the upcoming season, which follows the storyline of the 2020 game The Last of Us Part II. Season 2 continues the journey of Joel, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, as he faces new challenges in a darker, more emotionally complex world.

Pascal expressed excitement about further developing Joel’s character. “There’s something really exciting about giving everyone another season of a show they loved—and that we worked so hard on,” he shared.

Pascal’s rise to stardom has been a long time coming. After nearly two decades of smaller roles on stage and screen, his breakout came as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones. He gained further acclaim playing DEA agent Javier Peña in Netflix’s Narcos (2015–2017).

Returning for season two is Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Joel’s younger brother. “It’s so comforting to get the family back together,” Luna said. “And we’ve added incredible new cast members who’ve brought a deep love for the source material. I may be 43, but their energy really lifted us all. We can’t wait for audiences to see what we’ve created.”

Luna is no stranger to high-energy roles, having previously starred as Robbie Reyes in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Tony Bravo in Matador, and Paco Contreras in Wicked City.

Season two introduces a host of new characters, including:

• Isabela Merced as Dina
  
• Young Mazino as Jesse
  
• Ariela Barer as Mel
  
• Tati Gabrielle as Nora
  
• Spencer Lord as Owen
  
• Danny Ramirez as Manny
  
• Jeffrey Wright as Isaac
  
• With a guest appearance by Catherine O’Hara

Merced, 24, shines as Dina, bringing both confidence and heart to the role. “I felt like the new kid at school,” she said. “I think Dina and I share this random, unshakable confidence. How does the new kid instantly become the ‘it’ girl?”

Luna joked, “She shows up to a press conference in a sparkly dress!” Merced laughed, “And you know I had to sparkle.” She went on to praise the inclusive and welcoming environment on set. “I felt really seen by Craig and Neil. That’s the kind of space where an actor can thrive.”

Merced, who considers herself “more Peruvian than American,” shared that Spanish was her first language and that she struggled with English in grade school. By age 15, however, she had already been accepted into college.

Bella Ramsey, returning as Ellie, opened up about the pressure and pride of continuing the story. “When season one came out, it was huge. Now with season two, all eyes are on us—and me—and that’s a bit scary. But it’s also exciting. I’m trying to see it as a celebration of all our hard work.” She highlighted the trust and camaraderie she shares with fellow cast members like Kaitlyn Dever and Young Mazino. “We went into this with total trust, and we’ve been supported every step of the way.”

Showrunners Mazin and Druckmann closed out the press event by reflecting on the intense preparation behind the scenes. “We’ve been working nonstop for two years,” Mazin said. “Season one ended—and we jumped right into writing, shooting, and editing season two. We’re incredibly proud and eager for fans to see it.”

Druckmann added, “Someone asked me if I’m excited for the premiere. I told them: I can’t even think that far ahead—we’ve still got this press conference to get through! But now it’s close, and I’m starting to imagine people watching. It’s going to be a wild ride.”

The Last of Us Season 2,  will run for 7 episodes, beginning Sunday April 13 (9pm, ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. 

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