A character named Vixen is coming to Legends of Tomorrow, but according to a report from TVInsider, she won’t be played by Megalyn Echikunwoke (pictured). Instead, it’ll be a previous Vixen, plucked out of time to join the crew of the Waverider.
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That’s so that showrunners can use a Vixen on the time-traveling show despite Echikunwoke’s lack of availability. The actress has a film in the works, Step Sisters, and according to the report has other film projects as possibilities. Wanting to use Vixen as a character but not recast the role of Mari McCabe, The CW has instead decided to pluck another Vixen out of time. Due to her powers being tied to a totem passed down across generations, there should be plenty for them to choose from.
Echikunwoke told Comicbook.com at the CW upfronts, where she was promoting the second season of the Vixen series of animated shorts on The CW Seed that she “would love that” when asked if she’d like to return to live action. She said there had already “been in conversations” about it, but did exercise some caution.
“It’s all based on what the capacity for the CW is, what my availability is, it’s a lot of things,” Echikunwoke said. “And Vixen’s really special so they want to find the right space for her.”
The actress said she found Vixen deeply personal because of the “extremely rare” nature of a female person of color superhero on television.
“I’m open to any type of development of Vixen in live-action,” she said. “I think the fans are there, and they deserve to have this character. They want this character. She’s really special, and an important part of the DC Universe, so I don’t see why she shouldn’t have the spotlight.”
So while her schedule is too full at the moment, it certainly seems possible – and that there have even been conversations about her return to live action on The CW.