Unmade Batman Movie Planned to Include a Surprising Character Death, Says Deathstroke Actor

For years, fans have speculated about the storyline of Ben Affleck’s abandoned Batman film, but Joe Manganiello, who played Deathstroke, has finally shed some light on it in his memoir, Bloodlines.

In the 2010s, Affleck was set to direct a Batman movie featuring his interpretation of the character from Zack Snyder’s DCEU. However, he stepped back from the project for personal reasons, even though Manganiello was cast as Deathstroke, a well-known adversary of Batman and the Teen Titans.

According to Manganiello’s account in Bloodlines, the film was envisioned as “a superhero version of David Fincher’s The Game,” where Deathstroke would aim to “dismantle Batman’s entire life” following the death of his son, Jericho. His relentless pursuit would lead to the kidnapping of Alfred and a shocking twist: the murder of Commissioner Gordon, played by J.K. Simmons.

Manganiello also mentioned that Batgirl was set to appear in the film, and there would be a tense mid-movie showdown where Deathstroke nearly defeats the heroes before they make a narrow escape via train. The climax was intended to feature an intense battle between Batman and Deathstroke, inspired by the iconic CG trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins.

This premise certainly aligns with the darker tone of the DCEU’s portrayal of Batman. However, since the film never progressed to full production, it’s possible that Affleck’s version of Batman could have diverged from Manganiello’s recollections. Still, a Batman film bold enough to kill off Commissioner Gordon would have been a must-see.

Ultimately, Affleck’s Batman project never materialized, and Manganiello’s only appearances as Deathstroke were in Justice League and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Recently, he expressed interest in reprising the role.

Instead, Warner Bros. shifted gears and produced The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson. Now, The Batman Part 2 and new DCU-canon films featuring Batman and Deathstroke are in development. What was meant to be DC’s quick entry into a cinematic universe ultimately fell short.