Best Look Yet At Joe Manganiello As Deathstroke

Posted by the man himself on his Instagram account. More on that later.

The Wrap: Gareth Evans in Talks to Direct Deathstroke Film

This is an abbreviated version of an article from The Wrap:

“The Raid” helmer Gareth Evans is in early discussions to write and direct DC Comics Assassin “Deathstroke” film, TheWrap has exclusively learned.

 

“True Blood” and “Magic Mike” star Joe Manganiello is attached to star. Deathstroke was previously attached to be the antagonist on the solo “The Batman” film when Ben Affleck was still attached to direct. “He’s a great villain because — I just had an instinctive feeling that he would match up with him well. You know, I’m a big admirer of that character as well, especially in the New 52 the way that they did Deathstroke, and I thought that it could work,” Affleck told Collider.

Last year, Affleck posted a cryptic tweet of Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke walking ominously toward the camera, which set of a frenzy of speculation.

After Affleck stepped down and Matt Reeves was hired to direct “The Batman,” Reeves shelved Affleck’s script and started over. Evans who initially passed on directing “Justice League Dark,” however impressed DC executives with his Deathstroke pitch that the company decided to go forward with a spinoff film.

Evans exploded onto the scene after he wrote and directed the 2011 action film “The Raid: Redemption” that starred Iko Uwais. The movie was praised for its unique action sequences and thrilling scenes, and was acquired for the U.S. by Sony Pictures Classics. The sequel, “The Raid 2” also written and directed by Evans, was released in 2014.

Potentially exciting stuff. I don't want to get my hopes up too high because this kind of thing can be pretty fluid at this early stage but there's cause for optimism.
Manganiello, when speculation began to surface to the effect that he would not be included in the Batman movie, said something to the effect that he knew everything but wasn't allowed to share. That seems like the kind of thing you'd say when you have every reason to believe you're getting your own movie after getting bumped from one.

Let the speculation begin!

Ben Affleck. You may have heard of him. Was Batman in the Batman vs Superman flick earlier this year.

He posted the video below on Instagram earlier today but apparently without explanation.

So what does it mean? The assumption seems to be that Deathstroke will be in Justice League movie but since it appears as though the villains in that will be part of Darkseid's entourage (or Darkseid himself, as yet unrevealed) then that may not be the case. Yes, Deathstroke worked for Darkseid in the Teen Titans/X-Men book I wrote about recently but I doubt that's any sort of solid evidence.

I think it's more likely that Slade Wilson is being introduced in Affleck's stand-alone Batman film. Pretty exciting stuff regardless.

Jim Parrack to play Deathstroke in Suicide Squad movie? Or...

I know this news is already a few days old now, but I wasn't sure if we were still at the rumour stage.

Parrack's name came about from being seen in this Suicide Squad cast photo (second from right)...

I think a few people speculated at what Parrack's role would be and that perception was assumed to be reality. But his girlfriend is denying it in pretty straightforward fashion. Do we even really know that Deathstroke is in the Suicide Squad movie? I'm not even sure that much has been confirmed.

So before getting too wrapped up in it, let's maybe see what's fact and what's jumping to conclusions. I hope there's fire where that smoke's coming from though.