Culture 3 min read By Trevor Kendall
Joe Manganiello Details Scrapped Deathstroke Storylines in Canceled DCEU Films
Joe Manganiello says his Deathstroke was set for multiple DC Extended Universe films that never materialized, including Ben Affleck's scrapped Batman movie, where the character would have destroyed Batman's life and killed Commissioner Gordon.
Joe Manganiello has revealed what audiences missed when the DC Extended Universe abandoned its plans for Deathstroke. In his new memoir «Bloodlines,» the actor writes that he was lined up to play the mercenary in multiple DCEU storylines that were ultimately canceled, including Ben Affleck's scrapped Batman film.
According to Manganiello, that unmade Batman movie would have seen Deathstroke «dismantle Batman's entire life» and kill Commissioner Gordon. Affleck was attached as writer, director, producer and star of the project, which never reached theaters. The actor's account offers a rare look at a creative direction the studio developed and then dropped.
Manganiello first appeared as Deathstroke in a brief cameo in 2017's «Justice League,» a scene that teased a larger role without delivering one. The character, whose real name is Slade Wilson, is a skilled assassin and one of DC Comics' most enduring antagonists. Plans for him to anchor a Batman story were part of the DCEU's early strategy of building interconnected films around established heroes and villains.
The memoir, published Tuesday, expands on comments Manganiello has made in interviews about the lost project. His account places Deathstroke at the center of a darker Batman narrative, one in which the villain's campaign against the hero extended to those closest to him. The death of Commissioner Gordon, a foundational Batman ally, would have marked a significant departure for the franchise.
The canceled film is one of several DCEU projects that were announced or developed but never produced as the studio's plans shifted. Warner Bros. eventually restructured its DC film operation, and the universe was rebooted under new leadership. Those changes left a number of storylines, including the Deathstroke material, unrealized.
For fans of the character, Manganiello's disclosure adds detail to a role that remained largely theoretical on screen. Deathstroke has appeared in other adaptations, including the animated series «Teen Titans» and the live-action series «Arrow,» where he was played by Manu Bennett. The DCEU version, however, never moved beyond its brief introduction.
The memoir also arrives as DC's film slate continues to evolve under the rebooted approach. Manganiello's recollections serve as a reminder of how much creative work can go into projects that never reach the public, and how abruptly franchise plans can change.
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