Hawkgirl unmasked in Man of Tomorrow as James Gunn reveals her origin
James Gunn just locked in which Hawkgirl will take flight in the DCU, clarifying Isabela Merced’s role in Man of Tomorrow.
Quick one: James Gunn just put a name tag on the DCU ’s Hawkgirl. It ’s the answer longtime DC fans were hoping for, and it quietly sets up where this version of the character could be headed in Superman 2.
So, which Hawkgirl are we getting?
In a June 16, 2026 post on X, Gunn confirmed that Isabela Merced’s winged warrior is Kendra Saunders. He did it by pointing straight at her comic book starting line: Kendra’s first appearance in ‘JSA Secret Files and Origins #1.’ He even called out the creative team to make it crystal clear.
"Kendra Saunders, AKA Hawkgirl, made her comic debut in JSA SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS #1, written by David Goyer and James Robinson, with pencils by Scott Benefiel and inks by Mark Propst."
Why the specificity? Hawkgirl is one of those DC characters with multiple incarnations across comics, animation, and live action. Nailing down which version we’re following matters for the lore, the relationships, and the long game.
What this means for Man of Tomorrow
- Isabela Merced is back in Superman 2: Man of Tomorrow, hitting theaters July 9, 2027. She first showed up in Superman (2025 ) and later turned up again in Peacemaker Season 2. Her recent training updates suggest Hawkgirl has more to do this time.
- Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart is also in the movie. If you watched Justice League Unlimited, your radar just pinged — that Hawkgirl/Green Lantern pairing has a big fanbase.
- Kendra-specific story hooks now on the table: reincarnation loops, fragmented memories, and ties to Thanagar. Those threads have defined her in the comics and could become key as the DCU keeps stitching its pieces together.
Why Gunn’s ID check matters
On the surface, it’s a small clarification. In practice, labeling Merced’s Hawkgirl as Kendra Saunders tells you what playbook Gunn is pulling from. With him building a larger interconnected DCU, this is the kind of detail that hints at where Hawkgirl can go next — and how she might connect to the rest of the roster.
Now that we know it’s Kendra, what part of her mythology do you actually want the sequel to dig into — the past lives, the Thanagarian angle, or something we haven’t seen on screen yet?