For years the DC fandom has been begging and wailing for a Batman vs. Deathstroke film and it looks like James Gunn might just give it to them in the foreseeable future.
No matter what bewildering plans the DC co-CEO has in store for the franchise, the man definitely deserves credit for always being upfront and interactive with the audience. Following the wild shakeup at DC Studios, the Brightburn producer seems to have sparked a flicker of hope amongst fans as he teased the possible revival of Deathstroke in the DCU.
Although nothing can be said for sure yet, it certainly is a step up from bouts of tedious speculation and unchecked rumors. Who knows, maybe fans will finally be able to see the much-awaited epic battle between the Caped Crusader and the one-eyed mercenary after all.
James Gunn Hints at the Possible Return of Deathstroke
When a Twitter user asked him whether there are any future “plans” for bringing back Deathstroke to the DCU, James Gunn responded in the affirmative. Not exactly, he actually replied with a very cryptic “could be,” but you know what they say, it’s better to be on the positive side of things.
There’s no way of saying whether or not fans will get to see Slade Wilson as a part of the DCU for certain. But Gunn’s answer, however vague it may be, is still reassuring to see that at least the supervillain’s appearance isn’t something totally out of the question.
Related: James Gunn Reportedly Planning to Bring Back Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke to DCU
However, one main question associated with Deathstroke’s possible return is whether Joe Manganiello, the actor who previously portrayed the character, would portray him again. That is if Slade Wilson really does get revived in the DCU.
Will Joe Manganiello Play Deathstroke in the DCU?
Manganiello last played Deathstroke in Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 2021. But after that, the 45-year-old actor made it crystal clear that he won’t be representing DC’s deadliest assassin again. So, it doesn’t seem to be too likely for him to come back as Slade Wilson.
Related: DCU Reportedly Bringing Back Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke as a Member of Amanda Waller’s Checkmate
But that doesn’t mean Deathstroke can’t return at all, given how Gunn himself said that there is a possible place for the Batman villain in the DCU. If The Suicide Squad director really is planning on bringing the character back, the best way to do it would be to place him against Batman in a solo film. It’s anyways high time this particular wish of the audience is fulfilled. Then again, the Dark Knight himself is reportedly in the works to be played by a different actor altogether instead of Robert Pattinson or Ben Affleck. So that’s yet another mystery that remains unsolved.
Hopefully though, whatever strings Gunn pulls from now onwards would be to appease the audience instead of enraging them any further.
Source: Twitter
