As a seasoned film critic with over three decades of movie-watching under my belt, I must say that the tantalizing prospect of Ben Affleck’s Batman facing off against Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke has been a burning desire for DC fans like myself since the days of yore. The recent reveal of concept art and fan-made animations only serves to fuel that flame, reminding us of what could have been in the DCEU.
Despite numerous criticisms leveled at the movie Justice League, its post-credits scene featuring Ben Affleck’s Batman and Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke has remained a favorite among fans. This week, those disappointed fans received another disappointment as storyboard artist Jay Oliva unveiled artwork from the abandoned film. Before Robert Pattinson donned the cape in Matt Reeves’ acclaimed The Batman, Affleck was preparing to star in a solo Batman movie. It was announced that Batfleck would fight Manganiello’s Deathstroke in this film, a battle fans have eagerly anticipated on the big screen for quite some time. However, when Affleck relinquished the role, fans could only speculate about what might have transpired.
Alongside Oliva’s formal artwork, a fan-created animation has been gaining widespread popularity online. The video, shared by @SchwayJohn, features a preliminary drawing depicting a potential battle between Batman and Deathstroke. This piece is heavily influenced by the warehouse fight from the movie “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” which was an impressive scene amidst overall average film quality. The animation showcases both characters employing their League of Shadows techniques, consistently outsmarting their foe with creative strategies and advanced tools.
Joe Manganiello Won’t Appear as Deathstroke in the New DC Universe
In the process of revamping the DC Universe, James Gunn and Peter Safran have been forthright about which characters and actors will persist in the fresh narrative. While Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller and John Cena’s Peacemaker are set to carry on in the new DC Universe timeline, Mangianello’s Deathstroke has been excluded from this renewal. Previously speaking with ComicBook.com, Mangianello shared a discussion he had with James Gunn regarding Deathstroke’s fate. The actor mentioned that:
James Gunn is my friend, and we discussed the matter because Jim Lee at DC Comics expressed interest in turning a screenplay I wrote for the Deathstroke origin film into a graphic novel series. However, when the DCEU was dismantled, this project was put aside too. Jim appreciated it and wanted to turn it into a series, but there were no guarantees that I could remain involved if it gained attention from directors and producers. Therefore, I had to let go of the idea. James Gunn simply said, ‘Let it go.’
Although Mangianello won’t be part of the revamped DC Universe, James Gunn has disclosed his intentions to feature Deathstroke in future projects. There’s much buzz that this hired gun could make an appearance in the impending Batman reboot titled “The Brave and the Bold“. This film is also expected to debut Damian Wayne, another League of Shadows member who happens to be Batman’s son. As of now, a release date for the movie hasn’t been announced.
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2024-09-28 18:31