Last week, the internet was set ablaze when Ben Affleck released test footage of Deathstroke, only to be swiftly followed by word that the world’s deadliest mercenary is the main villain in the upcoming solo Batman movie.
Keeping true to when any iconic character makes their way to the big screen, fans flocked to social media and message boards speculating who could bring Slade Wilson to violent life. Among those names was Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Magic Mike), who coincidentally happened to be in London where Justice League is currently filming.
Well, according to The Wall Street Journal, who were able to get confirmation straight from DC Entertainment president and chief creative officer Geoff Johns, Manganiello will indeed suit up and do battle with The Dark Knight in the not too distant future.
[zergpaid]What they were unable to confirm, however, was whether or not Deathstroke will make an appearance in Justice League, which is set to arrive in theaters on November 17, 2017. Given that the stars are aligning a little too well, I think it’s safe to say that he will appear in some capacity, even if it’s just a small cameo with the intention of planting a seed for future outings.
Personally, I think Manganiello is a great fit for this role. Not only does he have a seasoned, chiseled look as if he were Slade Wilson ripped right out of a comic book, but he also bears a passing resemblance to Manu Bennett, who played the character for three seasons of Arrow.
While the untitled Batman film has no release date as of now, keep in mind that Warner Bros. have two theatrical dates earmarked for untitled DC movies – October 5, 2018 and November 1, 2019 – so it could easily be one of those. As always, we’ll keep you posted when we learn more.