The former '4400' star may only be voicing the latest DC hero, but she has high hopes for visits to Star(ling) and Central City.
There’s a new DC superhero headed your way, and she’s about as fierce as you can get!
On Tuesday The CW’s digital hub, CW Seed, premieres its new original animated series Vixen from Arrow boss Marc Guggenheim, and for star Megalyn Echikunwoke, the role is one she’s been itching to do for a while.
“It was a dream come true,” the 32-year-old actress, who plays the title character, tells ETonline.
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Vixen, a.k.a. Mari McCabe, inherits her family’s Tantu Totem after her parents are tragically killed in Africa. Unlike the Arrow, who leans on his combat skills, or The Flash, who relies on his speed-time tricks, Vixen mimics the abilities of any animal she comes into contact with.
“I had always wanted to portray a superhero character, whether on film or on voice, so when I was asked to do this, I was like, ‘This is amazing!’” the former The 4400 actress shares.
While Echikunwoke didn’t get the chance to slip into a suit in order to get into character – “Yes, I would’ve loved to have a costume,” she confesses – but noted that “a lot of the performance is how you use your voice and your body.”
“To me, I am Vixen. When I’m in that recording booth I’m Vixen, and I’m inspired by her story so it was very easy for me to get into the world,” Echikunwoke says.
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It helped that she had a soft spot for a character as tough as Vixen, whom she describes as a “self-made superhero.”
“I’ve always dreamed of a character like Vixen,” she explains, “and turns out a lot of people [have too]. And the closer it gets to premiering, people are really hungry for this type of character and I don’t think she exists in any other comic universes.”
“Vixen will resonate with a lot of people,” Echikunwoke foresees.
Arrow and The Flash fans will recognize some familiar voices in the digital series, as Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin will make cameos. Though Echikunwoke has yet to meet the two stars, she’s hoping an opportunity will come for her to make an on-camera appearance on either CW shows.
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“I would love to do that!” she says. “I hope it does turn into that. I think it all depends on how the fans respond to Vixen, and hopefully if people really like it and want more, then I think the ability to give fans more is there. It’s all up to the fans, but I am ready and available!”
Echikunwoke is no stranger to vocal fanbases, having starred in USA’s cult supernatural series The 4400, and we simply had to ask about her thoughts on whether she'd be all for a revival should that ever come to fruition.
“I meet so many disgruntled who feel like they had no closure to that and in a way, there wasn’t,” she says. “I don’t think it’s ever going to end, I think it’s just going to be this open wound for all of us.”
Vixen premieres Tuesday on The CW Seed.
Before the fall TV season kicks off again, relive this moment from season three of Arrow by pressing play below.