Joe Manganiello talks Deathstroke and new Bat-fleck film

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

So we know Joe Manganiello is going to be playing Deathstroke (basically the Senator Claghorn to Deadpool's Foghorn Leghorn), but we haven't heard much about his role in the film other than that he's the primary antagonist.

Recently, however, Manganiello spoke on Mark Madden's podcast (of WWE) fame, and he had this to say:

When I met Ben we sat down and we talked about, you know, the role…[and] about the movie. His take is a fresh take but I think the audience is going to be surprised. Because it’s a road that no one’s really gone down that’s completely integral to, you know, who Batman is. And I think it’s gonna be refreshing but at the same time completely familiar. But it’s going to take this franchise in a direction that I think A LOT of people are going to be really happy about. It’s going to be gritty and action packed and cerebral and all of those elements that people love about Batman.

While there's not a ton of content, what's good to hear are that a) the new BATMAN film is going down "a road that no one's really gone before" and b) it's going to be "cerebral". Now, to the extent of how different or how cerebral, only time will tell. Hopefully they take the "detective Batman" route, as that's an aspect of the character that's been hinted at in previous films (like finding the files on SmileX in the '89 version, of that sci-fi bullet bullshit in THE DARK KNIGHT), but only briefly and mostly off-screen. So that's definitely something that will fit going down a new road, but also something that's a bit more cerebral than beating people up for two hours. 

Manganiello also talks up Ben Affleck's directing, saying "I mean, the last movie that man directed won best picture" and that "everything is lined up for…not only a superhero movie but just a great great movie." So that's encouraging.

How much of this is legit and how much is just hype (it's not a good career move to shit on a movie you're working on), but either way I'm looking forward to it. As long as Batman doesn't kill people, I'll consider that a minor victory.

No release date yet set, which I'd say is a good thing. Better to give the story time to breathe rather than rush it out half-cocked (unless Bret Easton Ellis is to be believed).

But what do you guys think? And what would you like to see in a Batman film that no one else has put in it? I for one am looking forward to the appearance of Harold Allnut.