The CW's Arrow has become one of the most beloved superhero TV shows of all time in just four short years. However, as good as the show has recently become, it still can’t compare to the glory of its second season. One major reason for that particular season’s success was the ample use of Manu Bennett’s Slade Wilson a.k.a Deathstroke. Many fans have clamored for Deathstroke to return to Arrow, but it looks like DC has bigger and better plans for the iconic character.
When asked on Tumblr about the potential for characters like Deathstroke or Walter Steele to return to Arrow at some point in the near future, Arrow Executive Producer had this to say:
The character of Slade Wilson is currently tied up in another DC project. Walter is more likely.
That statement is as vague as it is enticing. Although it remains unclear exactly what "another DC project" refers to, we can make some educated guesses. One such possibility would be the inclusion of Slade Wilson in a future Suicide Squad sequel. This would make sense as many have speculated that Scott Eastwood’s as of yet unnamed character in the upcoming Suicide Squad is a young Slade, and the events of the movie could see him become the Deathstroke we all know and love. Another theory points to the possibility that Deathstroke will play a major role in a future Batman solo film as a rogue assassin that Bruce Wayne must stop; think Batman: Arkham Origins but with all of the crap removed.
While the possibility of Deathstroke hitting the silver screen excites us, it also equally disappoints the hardcore fans of Arrow. Manu Bennett’s Slade Wilson really was one of the characters that sold us wholeheartedly on the first two seasons of the show, and his absence has become noticeable. We aren’t alone in that opinion, even Arrow’s lead actor Stephen Amell recently admitted that Bennett brought something special to the show, and that Arrow could use some Deathstroke right about now.
Introducing Deathstroke as a villain for the DC Extended Universe would make a great deal of sense at this stage of the game. Beyond his status as an elite soldier, Slade Wilson also has been enhanced to the peak of human perfection through a super soldier program, bringing him to a record high in strength and condition. His combined physical and mental attributes could make him the perfect villain for a solo Batman adventure. He’s also a villain with ties and relationships (some good, some bad) to various organizations throughout the DC universe – ranging from the Suicide Squad to the Teen Titans – so he’s arguably one of the most flexible characters to include in the coming universe.
No matter what, it seems that Warner Bros. has a plan for the character, and he hasn’t been left to rot on Lian Yu. We will bring you any and all information concerning the future of Deathstroke as it becomes available to us.
