Superman: DCU Hawkgirl Actor Praises David Corenswet, Compares Him to a Golden Retriever

DC Universe actor Isabela Merced has nothing but kind things to say about her Superman co-star David Corenswet.

Merced, who portrays Hawgirl in the upcoming DCU superhero movie, recently took part in a Q&A at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival for her 2024 sci-fi horror movie, Alien: Romulus. During the Q&A, which was moderated by Jacqueline Coley, Merced opened up about working with Corenswet, who portrays the titular Man of Steel, with her comments suggesting that he shares many of the same attributes as his character, Clark Kent.

“He’s a hometown boy. I feel like if he could be a food he’d be cornbread. He’s just so real and hardworking and like a golden retriever,” she said (via X). “I think he is probably the best person on this earth to play Superman. I really believe in him and he’s really nice to me, so I’d really like to see him succeed.”

Watch the entire Alien: Romulus Q&A with Merced below:

David Corenswet’s Superman will be different than Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel

Corenswet will be the sixth actor to portray Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman on the big screen, succeeding Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, and Henry Cavill. Although plot details remain heavily under wraps for the movie, writer-director James Gunn has teased that Corenswet’s Superman will be different from the version played by Cavill in the DC Extended Universe.

For instance, Gunn’s Superman will not be as dark and serious as Cavill’s Man of Steel initially was depicted, with this difference represented in how much brighter and colorful Corenswet’s Superman suit is compared to the toned-down colors in Cavill’s. The upcoming superhero movie will also feature several characters from the Superman mythos that were either absent or largely underutilized during Cavill’s tenure, such as Krypto the Superdog, Superman’s cousin Supergirl, Jimmy Olsen, Eve Teschmacher, and the Daily Planet staff.

Superman will be the first theatrical and second overall installment in the DCU, which begins this December with the adult animated series Creature Commandos. Besides Corenswet and Merced, other cast members for Superman include Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White, among others.

Superman is scheduled to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.