In another strand of the multiverse right around now, we could have been seeing Ben Affleck’s Batman taking the lead in a solo movie and discovering how Zack Snyder’s DCEU plan evolved with the likes ofDeathstrokeand Joker playing a big role in the franchise. However, circumstances dictated otherwise and a number of plans fell apart thanks to the disjointed affair that Warner Bros.Justice Leaguebecame, including the big future plans for Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke which it looks like are now dead in the water, as not even the actor believes that he will return to the role
When it comes to villains of DC, Deathstroke stands as one of the most iconic, having served as archenemy to Teen Titans, as well as facing off against Batman, the Justice League and Green arrow. As well as numerous comic appearances, Deathstroke has also had other iterations on screen including being voiced by Ron Perlman in the animatedTeen Titansseries, and played by Manu Bennett and Esai Morales in the live actionArrowverseandTitansseries respectively. When it comes to the big screen though,Joe Manganiellobrought the character to life for the post credits scene ofJustice League’s original cut.
WhenJustice Leaguemade its debut in 2017, there were many fans with a lot of dream scenarios for what could follow, but the mixed reception immediately put much of it on the backburner. The arrival of Zack Snyder’sJustice Leaguestoked interest again, but not for the studio, nor the director and not even, it seems, for Manganiello, who during an interview withComingSoon.nethad a very blunt answer about whether he would play the role again.
“No, I let that go a while ago.”
The actor was previously attached to two major movies, being set to act as the villain of Ben Affleck’sThe Batman, before that fell through and became the Matt Reeve directed Robert Pattinson movie we are expecting next year, and also as the lead in his own solo movie by Gareth Evans. After the originalJustice Leaguerelease, Warner Bros. immediately seemed to move away from all of the plans Snyder had laid to take the DCEU down a different route. While Zack Snyder’sJustice Leaguesaw Manganiello reprise his role and comment in a series of interviews that there was a possibility of more projects to come, it looks like with hope of the Snyderverse ever being realised diminishing has taken a toll on any future for the character in any form.
While there may still be a big social media noise for Warner Bros to “Restore the Snyderverse”, it is safe to say that everyone potentially involved in a continuation of the Zack Snyder vision for theDCEUhas now moved on, so it is not surprising that Manganiello has also opted to move on to new projects rather than hold out on the whim that Warner Bros. may suddenly do another U-turn and bring Snyder’s world back to life. In an ironic turn one of Manganiello’s next roles will be voicing a character in Snyder’sArmy of the Dead: Lost Vegasanimated series, which will premiere on Netflix in the spring.
