Over the past couple of days, a certain rumor has taken over the Marvel vs. DC cinematic rivalry. It's been just over a year since Brie Larson made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Captain Marvel, the franchises first lead female superhero. Well, that certain rumor has tied Larson to potentially jumping from the MCU to portray a similar character, minus the extravagant powers, in the DCEU.
Since this is just a rumor, there's nothing actually tying Larson to portraying DC's Lady Blackhawk. Zinda Blake, an expert in aviation and all forms of combat as well as a member of the famed World War II Blackhawks squadron, has been a staple of DC Comics since the late 1950s and would likely make her on-screen debut alongside Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn. With a rumor being the only news surrounding the casting for a live-action Lady Blackhawk, let's add to the speculation and look at ten actresses that would perfectly portray the character.
10 Sophie Turner
One of the first, and younger, picks to play Lady Blackhawk in the DCEU would be Sophie Turner. The Game of Thrones star has already made her debut in comic book films, portraying Jean Grey in the most recent X-Men films, taking the lead role in X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
Turner would be a great pick for the role and could probably mesh seamlessly into the pre-existing Birds of Prey group. She'd also certainly be able to carry the weight of a Lady Blackhawk solo film, which could be the perfect bounce back for her in the cinematic comic book realm after the box office letdown that was Dark Phoenix.
9 Emily VanCamp
Another actress who's already made her debut within a past Marvel film is the MCU's Sharon Carter, Emily VanCamp. Her character was thought to be forgotten in the MCU after not appearing in a film since Captain America: Civil War up until her casting in the upcoming The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series. Despite being comfortably situated in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, VanCamp would be another perfect choice for a live-action portrayal of Lady Blackhawk. She's got the perfect look for the character and is finally due for a more prominent role in a comic book film.
8 Natalie Dormer
There are several things that Brie Larson and Natalie Dormer have in common. To start, they've both appeared in the MCU at one point or another. They also have both had their names in heavy rotation when it comes to fan casting Lady Blackhawk. Dormer is more popularly known for her role in television series such as Game of Thrones and The Tudors, but she's also made waves with her role in the Hunger Games films as well as a short cameo in Captain America: The First Avenger.
With a character who most notably gets misplaced in time, Lady Blackhawk feels like a great role for Dormer, who is certainly deserving of a legitimate role in the DCEU considering her MCU character was so quickly forgotten.
7 Brie Larson
We've finally arrived at the woman who's name sparked all the buzz. Although there's no doubt that Brie Larson would do a tremendous job in portraying Lady Blackhawk, it's just hard to believe she'd ever abandon her post in the MCU for a role with the rival.
After being brought in to the Marvel Cinematic Universe so recently, Brie Larson is most likely staying put regardless of the rumors. We'll probably see her portray Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel once more before she takes on any other kind of comic book role. All the rumors have obviously put her name in the discussion for the role of Zinda Blake, but her actually accepting the part is wildly unlikely.
6 Rachael Taylor
Since it seems like the old era of Marvel Television is all but dead, it's about time that the actors from its shows start making their way into the film side of on-screen comic book adaptions. One of the more underrated performances of any Marvel series is Rachael Taylor in Jessica Jones.
Taylor gave a terrific portrayal of Jessica Jones' best friend Trish Walker, with a much more elevated role in the action throughout the show's third season. She's likely a name that would be overlooked for a role like Lady Blackhawk, but for anyone who's seen her in any show or film before knows that she'd be a welcomed addition to the DCEU.
5 Ali Larter
Over the past few years, actress Ali Larter has stepped much more into the world of television over film. She's also yet to step into any kind of major mainstream movie franchise such as the MCU or DCEU. However, she could likely play a great Lady Blackhawk with the looks to completely cap it off. Getting her to take on a role of that size might be tough, but it would certainly help revive her name in the scope of massive mainstream films.
4 Amanda Schull
Yet another actress who's made a name for herself in the world of television is Amanda Schull. With major roles in series like Suits and most recently 12 Monkeys, Schull has dedicated most of her past decade to television. However, she's well accustomed to action and science fiction of comic book films through her role in 12 Monkeys and could portray a perfect Lady Blackhawk.
Like everyone on this list, it'd be extremely interesting to see how Schull would handle a character like Zinda Blake. Her portrayal of Blake, among several others, would likely thrive mostly in a solo film, while the rest would benefit from their Lady Blackhawk being incorporated into a group-led film like Birds of Prey.
3 Adrianne Palicki
Former Agents of Shield actress Adrianne Palicki, believe it or not, has had a foot in the doors of both Marvel and DC. Aside from her role as Bobbi Morse for Marvel, Palicki was actually slated to portray Wonder Woman in a television series back in 2011, even shooting a pilot episode for the show. Since her role as Diana Themyscira was as short-lived as it comes, Palicki is more than able to rejoin the DC family in the role of Zinda Blake. We're all aware that she's more than capable of portraying a badass female lead, and would probably thrive in a Lady Blackhawk solo film and even another Birds of Prey group film. Overall, Palicki would be great in the role of Blake and has a solid history of portraying very similar characters.
2 Katheryn Winnick
Since 2013, Katheryn Winnick has spent a majority of time portraying Lagertha on the hit series Vikings. There's no doubt that Winnick's performance was one of the show-stopping elements of the show and was something to behold for over seven years. With her role in the series likely at its end, she's deserved a new role to highlight her incredible career.
Along with near-identical looks, Winnick could bring the same intensity and badass nature that fueled her portrayal of Lagertha for years to the role of Lady Blackhawk. She's certainly an underrated choice for the role, but also a home run casting candidate that DC should capitalize on.
1 Yvonne Strahovski
Australian actress Yvonne Strahovski is yet another perfect, but likely underrated, pick for the role of Lady Blackhawk. As another who's gotten her notoriety for television roles in series like Chuck, Dexter, 24: Live Another Day, and most recently The Handmaid's Tale, Strahovski has fulfilled plenty of roles that would only go to help her in a portrayal of Lady Blackhawk.
One thing that sets Strahovski apart from the rest of the candidates is that she has a history working with DC. Back in 2016, she voiced the part of Katherine Kane's Batwoman in the animated film Batman: Bad Blood. Since there's no sign of her taking on a live-action version of that character, she should be brought back into the DC world in the form of Lady Blackhawk. Obviously, she looks strikingly similar to the character of Zinda Blake, but it's her resume of work playing tough, confident, and cunning female characters that make her such a favorite to play the part.