James Gunn adds to the cast of his Superman: Legacy movie as it is announced Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, and long-time buddy Nathan Fillion has joined the flick in new DC superhero roles.
Isabela Merced is Hawkgirl
22-year-old Isabela Merced, known for Transformers: The Last Knight, Dora, and the upcoming Madame Web Spider-Man spinoff movie and the Fede Alvarez Alien Hulu flick, joins the new DCU as Hawkgirl.
Merced confirmed the Hawkgirl casting on Instagram which comes on her birthday and two years the day before the film’s release date, “James Gunn gave me the best birthday gift.”
The Hawkgirl casting news via Vanity Fair says: “The hero’s favorite battle accessories are melee weapons—swords, spears, and maces—and Merced’s 5-foot-1 size will set her apart from the typical comic book brawler.”
Edi Gathegi is Mister Terrific
44-year-old Edi Gathegi is set to play Mister Terrific, a character previously rumored for Superman: Legacy. Edi Gathegi is known for recently playing Mr. Smiles in Adi Shankar’s The Guardians of Justice on Netflix, a character thought to be based on Joker. Gathegi is also known for Twilight, StartUp, The Blacklist, and played Darwin in X-Men: First Class.
The character description offers he will play Mister Terrific Michael Hoult “who is not only a skilled combatant but one of the world’s most brilliant inventors and tacticians, orbited by the floating T-Sphere weapons he designed. Among his superpowers is his otherworldly intellect. On the sleeve of his jacket is the phrase “Fair Play,” a tribute to the catchphrase of an earlier version of the Mister Terrific character as well as a statement of belief.”
Nathan Fillion is Green Lantern Guy Gardner
The 52-year-old Nathan Fillion is said to be playing Green Lantern Guy Gardner, who was previously going to be played by the 38-year-old Finn Wittrock in the canceled HBO Max series. It’s safe to say everything from the HBO Max series has been scrapped.
The casting for Fillion offers, per Gunn’s M.O., Guy Gardner will be goofy: “Gardner, the character Fillion will play in Superman Legacy, is distinct from both of [Hal Jordan and John Stewart] for being somewhat less than heroic when he wears the matter-manifesting ring that gives the Green Lantern his powers. Among the rest of the aliens and humans who serve in that group of galactic peacekeepers, Gardner is known as an abrasive, sometimes obnoxious presence. The role also brings a dose of awkward comedy to Superman Legacy. The character is known for his iconic bowl cut haircut, which will be a part of Fillion’s look in the film.”
As part of the DCU, James Gunn also previously announced the Lanterns TV series, which moves from a space setting the HBO Max series had to an Earth setting (in order to save money just like the Chris Pratt Legendary Star-Lord project at Marvel). Fillion is no stranger to Green Lantern as he has always been a fan-favorite choice to play Hal Jordan and has voiced the character nearly a dozen times.
With Fillion playing Guy Gardner, perhaps that also means Hal Jordan will be past his prime, and maybe it even lends credence to 61-year-old Tom Cruise playing Hal Jordan, as Cruise recently shilled The Flash movie for Gunn and WBD CEO David Zaslav. If I had to guess, I am guessing characters like Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner will be older Green Lanterns while the diverse members will be younger (or that Fillion’s Guy Gardner will have nothing to do with Lanterns and Hal Jordan and John Stewart). Fillion recently starred in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 for Gunn.
DCU taking shape
The aged castings of Mister Terrific and Guy Gardner also suggest that the DC superheroes have been a part of this new DCU for quite a while and that Gunn’s new Superman will be relatively new and only recently discovered. Also having members of The Authority in the flick suggests that, too.
WIth news of Fillion’s casting also comes word that since Fillion also had a role in Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, that Gunn is hand-picking characters that he will keep a part of his DCU. It’s said Viola Davis as Amanda Waller and John Cena as Peacemaker have both made their way to the DCU.
Gunn also recently again said his Batman of choice for Brave and the Bold will be a new actor and replied to a fan it won’t be George Clooney who appeared in The Flash.
Blue Beetle is also said to be a part of the new DCU.
Update: Anthony Carrigan has been cast as Metamorpho.
Superman: Legacy gets released on July 11, 2025 with David Corenswet playing the titular character and Clark Kent, and Rachel Brosnahan playing Lois Lane. A search is said to be underway for additional characters including Lex Luthor, with it said Bradley Cooper, Alexander, and Bill Skarsgard are up to play Lex Luthor.
The film is described as telling the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.
(via Vanity Fair)
