Beyond Atlantis: The Pre-DCU Intersection of Jason Momoa, Isabela Merced, and Adria Arjona in ‘Sweet Girl’

In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern superhero cinema, the casting choices of DC Studios under the leadership of James Gunn have sparked intense public fascination. As fans parse every frame of the new DC Universe (DCU), unexpected connective tissues between projects often emerge. One such fascinating footnote in Hollywood history is the 2021 Netflix action-thriller Sweet Girl, a film that serves as a curious "pre-union" for three actors now deeply entrenched in the DCU: Jason Momoa, Isabela Merced, and Adria Arjona.

While Sweet Girl was met with a lukewarm reception upon its release, the project represents a significant moment in the trajectories of its stars. Before they were donning capes, cowls, or extraterrestrial armor, they were a grieving family in a gritty, grounded tale of pharmaceutical corruption.

The Foundation: A Premise Rooted in Rage

Released in August 2021, Sweet Girl follows the story of Ray Cooper (Jason Momoa), a devoted family man living in Pittsburgh. His life is defined by his love for his wife, Amanda (Adria Arjona), and their daughter, Rachel (Isabela Merced). The narrative takes a harrowing turn when Amanda is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. As her condition deteriorates, the family’s only hope lies in a life-saving medication manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant BioPrime.

The central conflict arises when the medication is pulled from the market due to a corporate conspiracy, leaving the family defenseless. Following Amanda’s death, Ray and Rachel are left to navigate a world of grief that quickly curdles into a singular, violent mission for vengeance.

The film, directed by Brian Andrew Mendoza, leaned heavily into the "vigilante thriller" archetype. It was designed to showcase Momoa’s physical prowess outside of the underwater theatrics of Aquaman, positioning him as an everyman pushed to his limits. However, the film’s reliance on familiar genre tropes and a twist-heavy narrative ultimately drew sharp criticism from reviewers.

Chronological Context: The Evolution of a Trio

To understand the significance of this collaboration, one must look at the timeline of the actors’ careers.

• 2021: Sweet Girl premieres on Netflix. At this point, Jason Momoa is the face of the DCEU’s Aquaman, while Merced and Arjona are rising stars known for their work in YA adaptations and television, respectively.
• 2024: The DC Universe officially initiates its soft reboot. James Gunn’s Creature Commandos serves as the inaugural entry, signaling a massive shift in tone and casting for the studio.
• 2025: Superman hits theaters, marking the official "DCU proper" debut. Isabela Merced appears as Kendra Saunders, the fierce Hawkgirl, a member of the Justice Gang.
• Post-2025: Adria Arjona, following roles in critically acclaimed films like Hit Man and Blink Twice, is confirmed for high-profile DC projects, including the upcoming Man of Tomorrow. Meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl regarding Jason Momoa’s transition from Arthur Curry to the intergalactic bounty hunter, Lobo.

This chronology highlights how Sweet Girl functioned as a "farm system" of sorts, bringing together three performers who would eventually become cornerstones of the new DC hierarchy.

The Critical Consensus: Why the "Sweet" Didn’t Stick

Despite the star power, Sweet Girl holds a discouraging 24% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 59 critical reviews. The consensus, while acknowledging the commitment of the actors, was largely dismissive of the script’s execution.

Roxana Hadadi, writing for the Los Angeles Times, offered a representative critique. While she praised Momoa’s ability to convey raw, primal emotion—"Momoa can believably howl in anguish and throw a devastating punch"—she noted that the film was ultimately hamstrung by a "muddled" screenplay. The film’s attempt to pivot from a grounded drama to a conspiratorial action flick felt disjointed to many, with the third-act "twist" being particularly divisive among audiences who felt it undermined the emotional stakes of the first hour.

Variety’s Nick Schager offered a more nostalgic defense, suggesting that the film occupied a space that modern Hollywood had largely abandoned: the "brawny B-movie." However, even this defense was tempered by the acknowledgment that the execution lacked the finesse of the 90s classics it sought to emulate.

Behind the Lens: The Mendoza-Momoa Connection

The production of Sweet Girl is intrinsically linked to the partnership between Jason Momoa and director Brian Andrew Mendoza. Having co-founded the production company On The Roam in 2018, the two have functioned as a creative unit for years. Their professional shorthand is evident in the intimate, shaky-cam aesthetic of Sweet Girl, which mirrors the style Mendoza utilized in the short film Canvas of My Life.

For Momoa, the film was an attempt to prove he could command a screen without the backing of a major franchise. His commitment to the role of Ray Cooper was total, yet the result served as a reminder that star power alone cannot save a project if the narrative foundation is structurally unsound. The failure of Sweet Girl to land with critics did not derail his career, but it did underscore the necessity of strong, coherent storytelling—a lesson that seems to have been taken to heart by the current DC Studios leadership.

Implications for the New DC Universe

The migration of these three actors into the DCU raises interesting questions about character chemistry and future project synergy.

The Hawkgirl Factor

Isabela Merced’s inclusion in the DCU as Hawkgirl represents a significant "leveling up" in her career. Her performance in Superman has been noted for its energy and commitment to the lore of the character. The fact that she once played the daughter of a man who is now rumored to be the DCU’s Lobo adds a layer of irony that fans are eager to see played out on screen. If Momoa does indeed step into the role of Lobo in Man of Tomorrow, the dynamic between him and the rest of the cast will be scrutinized through the lens of their past, more grounded work.

Arjona’s Rising Profile

Adria Arjona has navigated a diverse career path, moving from the blockbuster landscape of Morbius to the tighter, sharper narratives of Hit Man and Onslaught. Her presence in the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow suggests that DC has significant plans for her. Whether she takes on the role of a major hero like Wonder Woman or another integral figure, her trajectory suggests a performer who has learned from the high-concept failures of her past and is now choosing projects with more narrative precision.

The Lobo Factor

Jason Momoa’s transition from Aquaman to Lobo is perhaps the most discussed casting move in the new DCU. Lobo, a character defined by chaos, violence, and a distinct lack of morality, is a far cry from the King of Atlantis. The physical skills Momoa honed in Sweet Girl—the MMA-style combat and the portrayal of a "survivalist" character—actually provide a much better blueprint for the Czarnian bounty hunter than his previous work as a sea-dwelling hero.

Looking Forward: A Re-evaluation

While Sweet Girl may not stand as a masterpiece of the genre, its value as a piece of pop-culture history is undeniable. It captured a moment in time when three pivotal actors were on the cusp of defining the next era of comic book cinema.

For fans looking to understand the chemistry that might exist between these actors in future DCU projects, Sweet Girl remains an accessible—if flawed—case study. It showcases their ability to handle intense, emotional material, and it provides a glimpse into the physical acting styles that have helped them land their current roles.

As the DCU continues to expand, the "Sweet Girl reunion" will likely remain a popular topic of discussion, a reminder that before the multiverse and the cosmic threats, these actors were just a father, a daughter, and a wife fighting against the corporate machine. Whether they share the screen again in a future DC project remains to be seen, but the history is already written, and the foundation has been set.

In the end, Sweet Girl was not the critical hit that its stars may have hoped for, but it serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of Hollywood. It reminds us that even in the most disappointing projects, the seeds of future blockbusters are often sown. As audiences wait for the next chapter of the DCU, perhaps it is worth revisiting this 2021 thriller—not for its plot, but to see the early chemistry of the faces that will soon dominate our screens for years to come.