Joe Manganiello cast as Deathstroke for ‘Batman’ solo film, Geoff Johns quiet on ‘Justice League’ cameo
Two weeks ago Ben Affleck shared a brief video revealing Deathstroke as the villain for the star/producer/director’s Batman solo film. Later that day, fans picked up on some clues that led them to believe that Magic Mike actor Joe Manganiello might be the person under that Deathstroke mask and now it’s been made official: Manganiello is Deathstroke/Slade Wilson.
Affleck did not offer any additional commentary to go with his tease, but The Wrap reports that Deathstroke will be the main villain in Affleck’s upcoming Batman solo movie.
Manu Bennett’s Deathstroke on “Arrow”
Now DC executive Geoff Johns confirmed to WSJ that Joe Manganiello has been cast as Deathstroke for Affleck’s Batman movie. Johns declined to comment on whether Deathstroke has a cameo in Justice League, which is currently shooting in London.
So we still don’t know if the footage Affleck released online was a screen test or part of shooting for Zack Snyder’s superhero team-up film.
The Wrap notes that “Suspicions arose that we would be seeing Deathstroke in the DC Cinematic universe when “Arrow” creator Marc Guggenheim was asked earlier this year why Deathsroke wasn’t returning to the television series. “The character of Slade Wilson is currently tied up in another DC project. Walter is more likely,” he said in a Tumblr post.”
Deathstroke was created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in “The New Teen Titans” #2 back in 1980. He’s trained in martial arts and combat, and thanks to an experimental serum he has enhanced speed, stamina, endurance, and reflexes. In addition, he has a brilliant tactical mind and an accelerated healing factor.
The character has been portrayed in live-action on a few different shows. He was played by Antonio Sabato Jr. in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Michael Hogan in Smallville, and Manu Bennett in Arrow.
Justice League arrives in theaters November 17, 2017 with Affleck tackling a solo Batman film scheduled for 2019.
