Ethan Carter
Years have passed since Ben Affleck portrayed Batman, and his solo film within the DCEU was ultimately shelved. Insights about this unproduced movie have come to light, particularly from former Deathstroke actor Joe Manganiello, who has provided additional details.
In his memoir Bloodlines, the True Blood star reflects on his brief engagement with the character of the DC assassin. If Affleck’s film had been produced, Slade would have taken center stage as the primary antagonist. Manganiello described the storyline as “a superhero version of David Fincher’s The Game.” Driven by the belief that Batman was responsible for his son’s death, Slade would have gone on a rampage, “dismantling Batman’s entire life” by eliminating Commissioner Gordon, kidnapping Alfred, and infiltrating the Batcave. A climactic battle would feature a two-on-one confrontation where Batman and Batgirl would struggle against Slade, who would come dangerously close to defeating them before they managed to escape.
Manganiello further elaborated that the film would culminate in a one-on-one “showdown through the streets of Gotham.” He noted that this intense confrontation drew inspiration from the reveal trailer of Batman: Arkham Origins. The 2013 video game featured a scene where Deathstroke faced off against Batman, alongside a moment where Bane invaded the Batcave and nearly took Alfred’s life. Since Affleck was in discussions regarding this project a few years after Origins, the parallels are evident.
Manganiello’s narrative hints that the film could have leaned more towards a Deathstroke-centric story, which could have been an intriguing direction. Slade possesses the capability to be a formidable adversary, and the actor appeared eager to explore this angle. Despite his enthusiasm for Affleck’s vision of a “Best Picture version of a Batman movie,” this project never materialized. As we await Batman’s return to the big screen, fans are also curious about who will portray Deathstroke in the upcoming team-up movie with Bane.
[via Entertainment Weekly]
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