Ben Affleck shocked the world recently when he posted a video on his personal Facebook page featuring the DC Comics villain/anti-hero Deathstroke - seemingly confirming the character as the primary antagonist of the actor/director's upcoming Batman solo movie. Unfortunately, the post didn't come with any details - specifically who it was wearing the mask... but now we have an answer. Joe Manganiello has been cast as Deathstroke a.k.a. Slade Wilson in the DC Extended Universe.
The news comes to us from The Wall Street Journal, which recently had the opportunity to interview DC Entertainment president and chief creative officer Geoff Johns. The comic writer/executive/producer confirmed both the casting and the character's role in the upcoming untitled Batman film. That particular project doesn't yet have a release date, but Ben Affleck and Johns are currently collaborating on the script, and it's unlikely that we will see the finished product any time before 2018. Johns was also asked if there's a chance we could see Deathstroke making his first big screen appearance in Zack Snyder's in-production Justice League movie, but he declined comment.
For those unfamiliar with the source material, Deathstroke is one of the deadliest characters in the DC Universe, and typically operates as an assassin/mercenary. Introduced in the early 1980s, he has been a foe for not just Batman, but also Green Arrow and the Teen Titans. He famously only has one eye (the other one having been shot out), and wears a militarized orange-and-black costume. You can see Joe Manganiello in action as the character in the video posted by Ben Affleck below:
As for Joe Manganiello, his path to this role has been a long one. The actor's name was first mentioned in connection to the role all the way back in March of 2015, as it was rumored that he would be taking on the role of Slade Wilson/Deathstroke in writer/director David Ayer's Suicide Squad. Strangely, Manganiello's response to this story was to 100% deny it - which is strange given that he has now officially landed the gig.
Nowadays, Joe Manganiello is best known for his role on True Blood, as well as in Magic Mike movies, but genre fans will be quick to point out that this is not his first time taking a part in a comic book movie. Back in 2001, he was tapped by Sam Raimi to play bully Flash Thompson in the first ever Spider-Man film. Obviously his role in the untitled Batman solo blockbuster will be much more significant.
How do you feel about Joe Manganiello being cast as Deathstroke in the DC Extended Universe? Do you think he's the right choice for the job, or would you have preferred to see the role go to a different actor? Hit the comments section below with your thoughts!
