Flash/Arrow Spinoff News: Hawkgirl to Join Hero Team-Up

We learn today who one of the three "mystery" heroes will be.

Story by Matt Cummings

Those new to the superhero-on-television trend might have forgotten the one that started it all: CW's Smallville, a mix of teenage melodrama in its first 8 seasons, and a fairly good superhero tale in its last two. During those final seasons, we were introduced to the mother of all superhero team-ups, The Justice Society of America, which featured Doctor Fate, elder versions of The Flash and The Green Lantern, and Michael Shanks as the nearly-immortal Hawkman. Hidden within the epic "Absolute Justice" was Hawkman's origin story, featuring the story of his dead love, Hawkgirl.

Fast forward one disappointing series finale and two very successful - and frankly better - series in The Flash and Arrow, and we've arrived at a sort of full circle. For it was revealed today by Deadline that one of three "mystery heroes" has been cast in the team-up spin-off, namely Kendra Saunders, aka Hawkgirl. And while fans might have been given an all-too-brief intro to her in Smallville, the actress playing her is even less known.

Meet Ciara Renée, who's been in Broadway's Big Fish and made recently made her TV debut in NBC’s Law & Order: SVU. According to Deadline, show creators Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim will include three new DC superhero characters never seen before on TV, along with several key players from the Arrow/Flash series. We recently reported that at least one half of FIRESTORM (Victor Garber) had signed, and that we would also see Caity Lotz (who played the now-deceased Black Canary) in some role along Brandon Routh's Atom.

While we don't know who the other two "mystery" heroes will be, we do know that Hawkgirl's character will focus around an origin story. In the spinoff, Saunders will begin to realize that she has been repeatedly reincarnated over the centuries but tries to keep it from public. She will soon learn her true nature when - during a moment of stress - she will not only assume the role of the ancient warrior, but will also grow wings out of her back, thus giving her the name Hawkgirl.

We're still waiting to see how Lotz's addition will be done, as she was killed in Arrow during this season. She could play a resurrected Black Canary or someone entirely new in the series, but at least the signing of Renée proves that CW is serious about developing DC's rather large arsenal of interesting (and lesser known) characters. The untitled series is set to premiere on CW during their Fall season.

What say you, fellow Sandwich-ers? Are you excited about the direction Berlanti and team are taking? Comment below and get in on the conversation!

NEXT: Learn more about CW's spinoff!

Source: Deadline Discuss this review with fellow SJF fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @SandwichJohnFilms, and follow author Matt Cummings at @mfc90125.