Rising star Ciara Renee has signed on to play Kendra Saunders, a.k.a. Hawkgirl in The CW's Arrow/Flash Spinoff. Earlier this month, we reported that the series will introduce three characters from the DC Comics who have never been seen on TV before. One of these characters was known as the "Female Warrior," described as, "a twentysomething Latina who is pretty but unassuming, book smart and socially awkward by day." The character becomes a "fierce warrior" by night, to the extent, "that sometimes she can become a threat to others." Hawkgirl was previously featured on Smallville and in the animated series Justice League, so this character might not be the "Female Warrior" in question. Though it should be noted that the Smallville version of the character was Kenrda's Aunt Shayera Hall.

Deadline speculates that the previously-confirmed Caity Lotz may play the Female Warrior, since her Arrow character Sara Lance, a.k.a. Black Canary, was killed in the Season 3 premiere. It's possible that Sara is being brought back to life to play Black Canary once again, but it's worth noting that Sara's sister Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) has taken over as the Black Canary in place of her sister. Other confirmed cast members for the currently untitled spinoff include Brandon Routh as Atom, Wentworth Miller as Captain Cold, Victor Garber as one half of Firestorm and Dominic Purcell as Heat Wave.

Kendra Saunders was created by David S. Goyer, James Robinson and Steve Sadowski, with the character making her first DC Comics appearance in the 1999 comic "JSA Secret Files and Origins" #1. She is the grandniece of former Hawkgirl Shiera Hall, and after Saunders took her own life, Hall's soul was able to enter her body, while retaining Saunders' memories. In the New 52 comic reboot, Saunders is a treasure hunter who has massive wings grafted on to her back, as a part of World Army's experiments. In the series, Saunders is just starting to learn that she has been "repeatedly reincarnated" throughout several centuries, and when she is provoked, her ancient warrior persona comes out, with gigantic wings growing out of her back.

Ciara Renee graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a degree in music theater in May 2013. Since then she has starred on Broadway in Big Fish and replaced Patina Miller in the Pippin revival. She made her TV debut last fall with a guest-starring spot on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She recently starred as Esmerelda in a workshop production of the Disney musical The Hunchback Of Notre Dame at the Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey and the La Jolla Playhouse.