When “Superman” hits theaters in July, it will not only spotlight the Man of Steel, portrayed by David Corenswet, but will also introduce audiences to several other DC characters. Among these is Hawkgirl, depicted in the new DC Universe by Isabela Merced. For many viewers, this film may serve as their first encounter with the formidable warrior, despite her complex history. To prepare for the potential Easter eggs within her storyline, check out Looper’s Hawkgirl explainer video before watching the movie.

Hawkgirl’s backstory in DC Comics is notably intricate and multifaceted. Over the years, numerous individuals have assumed the role of Hawkgirl or Hawkwoman. In this new film, Merced will take on the character Kendra Saunders. Kendra was first introduced in 1999’s “JSA Secret Files and Origins” #1 by David S. Goyer, James Robinson, Scott Benefiel, and Mark Propst. This issue reveals that after Kendra’s demise, her great-aunt Shiera Hall inhabits her body to carry on the Hawkgirl legacy. Kendra is equipped with wings for flying and wields a powerful mace. Intriguingly, she is cursed to roam the Earth in search of her soulmate, and every time they meet, they are destined to die, resurrect, and start this eternal cycle anew.

It’s uncertain how deeply Hawkgirl’s background will be explored in “Superman,” particularly given the expansive narrative the film must unfold to effectively initiate the new DCU. Director James Gunn may choose to alter or simplify elements of her story to cater to moviegoers and the “Peacemaker” Season 2 audience.

Though this is her big-screen debut, Hawkgirl has already appeared in live-action; while Isabela Merced will wear the wings for her cinematic outing, Ciara Renée played the Shiera Sanders Hall iteration of the character in the Arrowverse. Judging from the “Superman” trailers, the hero will mostly be hanging around Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) as part of the Justice Gang, who appear to be working on behalf of Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). Fans didn’t love her outfit based on initial set photos, claiming it looked too hokey, but these overly designed costumes may exist for the sole purpose of contrasting with Superman’s more traditional look.

Reviews for “Superman” aren’t out yet, but moviegoers are naturally interested in seeing any film featuring the most famous superhero of all time. Current box office projections indicate an opening weekend haul in the range of $90 million to $125 million domestically. That’s definitely nothing to scoff at, and if the film gets great word of mouth, it could entice others to head to the local cineplex as soon as possible. Amazon Prime is hosting a pre-release event on July 8 for members to see it a few days early, and it holds the honor of being the subject of Fandango’s best advance ticket-selling day of 2025, which certainly suggests hype is real for this movie.

Director James Gunn’s newest movie also stars Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White. “Superman” flies into theaters on July 11.