The Last of Us season 2 was divisive, but even those who weren't as engaged by the video game adaptation's sophomore run have to give credit where it's due: Isabela Merced is a fantastic performer, and her charm helped make Dina an unforgettable character. Prior to the HBO series, she'd earned acclaim for her roles in Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Transformers: The Last Knight, and Alien: Romulus, one of 2024's most successful summer blockbusters.
Isabela Merced Plays Hawkgirl In James Gunn's Superman
Releases Exclusively In Theaters On June 11, 2025
Isabela Merced is poised for a massive year in 2025, with her superhero performance debut scheduled for release in June. She's part of the cast of James Gunn's Superman reboot, which is effectively launching a new series of films and TV shows based on DC Comics, where she'll be playing the popular superhero, Hawkgirl. Though it won't be the most prominent role in the film, playing a superhero is always big news for an up-and-coming star, and stepping into the shoes of an iconic character will be a pivotal moment in her career.
Isabela Merced Will Reprise Her Role As Hawkgirl In Peacemaker Season 2
Releases On HBO Max On August 21, 2025
On top of appearing in Superman, Isabela Merced will appear as Hawkgirl in another major DC production just a couple of months later. Peacemaker is a James Gunn-written HBO series starring John Cena as a highly irregular antihero with a darkly comedic tone. Hawkgirl and other supporting heroes from Superman are set to appear again in the show, with the season 2 trailer showing Merced along with Sean Gunn's Maxwell Lord, Frank Grillo's Captain Rick Flagg Sr., and Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner.
Isabela Merced's Other Confirmed Movies & Shows Explained
Isabela Merced Isn't Done With The Last Of Us
Beyond just playing Hawkgirl, Isabela Merced has other movies and shows in the works. First, she'll be returning to The Last of Us for season 3, though with the focus shifting away from Ellie and toward Abby, it might not be as prominent a role as in season 2. For those who loved Dina in season 2, there's still plenty of story left to tell for her character, even if she's not on-screen as much.
In film, she's set to lead a heist thriller titled Dutch and Razzlekhan, which is based on a true-crime story of the most expensive heist in history. Isabela Merced will co-star alongside Chloë Grace Moretz and Gabriel LaBelle, with the film being directed by Jon S. Baird (Tetris). Given the true crime premise, this movie could be a gigantic hit for her, separate from franchises like DC, Alien, and The Last of Us.