The upcoming DCU film features an unexpected director and a supervillain team-up.

A recent report indicates that Greg Mottola, known for directing *Superbad*, is in the running to helm a film for James Gunn’s DC Studios.

According to a report, Mottola is the leading candidate to direct a movie featuring Deathstroke and Bane, with a script penned by Matthew Orton. While Mottola has previously directed two episodes of *Peacemaker*’s second season, this news is surprising for a couple of reasons. For one, *The Brave and the Bold*, the Batman film set in the DC Universe, hasn’t gained much momentum yet, and Mottola is typically recognized for his comedic work rather than action.

Deathstroke and Bane are generally portrayed as more serious characters in the DC Comics universe, although lighter versions have appeared in *Teen Titans Go!* and *Harley Quinn*. Both characters have also been brought to life in previous live-action adaptations; Tom Hardy played Bane in *The Dark Knight Rises*, while Joe Manganiello made a brief appearance as Deathstroke in both Joss Whedon’s and Zack Snyder’s cuts of *Justice League*.

Despite rumors of a team-up film featuring Bane and Deathstroke since 2024, it’s challenging to predict the direction of a movie centered on these villains, especially without a Batman film in the DCU to draw from. Mottola’s potential involvement hints that this project could lean towards a buddy comedy, contrasting sharply with *Clayface*, another Batman villain film that fully embraces horror elements.

For now, details will remain sparse until the project receives official confirmation from James Gunn or Warner Bros. The report also mentions that a script has yet to be finalized, meaning plot specifics are still subject to change. Nevertheless, Mottola’s contributions to *Peacemaker* appear to have impressed DC Studios enough to consider him for a directing role in a DCU feature.

Currently, DC Studios has the following films scheduled for release in 2026 and 2027: *Supergirl*, *Clayface*, *Man of Tomorrow*, and *The Batman Part 2*.