What should come as no surprise, the new Superman movie has a “James Gunn twist,” according to Isabela Merced who has been cast as the DCU’s Hawkgirl. She also says good things about the new Man of Steel, David Corenswet.
The actress is starring in this week’s release of Alien: Romulus and appeared on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast and talked up the DCU.
“Do you know Nathan Fillion? I’m so excited for everyone to see him! I think he’s fantastic!” she said, as Fillion is playing Guy Garnder Green Lantern. “The whole movie is very loyal to the comic books but with a James Gunn twist. I really think it’s funny, it’s clever, but it’s heartwarming… at least, that was my experience on set. Obviously, things can change in the editing room but, God, I loved… James is so prepared.”
FIRST LOOK SPOILER ALERT: The Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) joins Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Superman (David Corenswet) for a high-flying scene in downtown Cleveland. Photos: John Kuntz, https://t.co/WLnOBQdLss pic.twitter.com/vvcXtuBIWG
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) July 3, 2024
Merced continues explaining how Gunn is so prepared on set.
“I could exhale on set and didn’t need to worry about exhaling after because James is one of those people, again, who knows exactly what he wants, will stop at nothing to get it, has a shot list, communicates with his team and they’re all prepared before they get there because they’ve worked with him for twenty plus years,” Merced continued. “So When somebody is that in charge and on it, you really have room to get excited, and have faith in it, and relax into the role. I think that was the loveliest part of that experience.”
She also talks about knowing her Hawkgirl character and again how the film will have a James Gunn twist.
“I think at least we know our place in this new universe that James is creating. I think I learn more about my character each day,” she explained. “One of the most eye-opening days was seeing her room. The room was super revealing as to who she was, and that was something I didn’t even know how it was going to look. You have the comics to reference, but you don’t always get the full picture. Maybe in the script, it says ‘interior: hot girl’s room,’ but that’s it. Then you see it, and it’s super informative. James is trying to stay really loyal to the comics but also add his own twist to an extent.”
Isabela Merced also reveals that when she was up to play Batgirl that David Corenswet read opposite her, and says he will be a “wonderful Superman.”
“I think David himself is, in my opinion, a very Superman-like person. He has the patience of a Buddhist, and he is super, super kind. He talks to everyone, and babies love him, kids love him, so I think he will be a wonderful Superman,” she said.
Superman opens July 11, 2025 also starring Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
