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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