Joe Manganiello has disclosed new plot details about Ben Affleck's canceled standalone Batman movie, revealing that the film would have centered on Deathstroke's vendetta against the Dark Knight and featured a climactic fight inspired by the Batman: Arkham Asylum video game. The actor, who was cast as Slade Wilson before the DC film universe was rebooted, shares the information in his new memoir, Bloodlines.
According to excerpts published by Entertainment Weekly, the movie would have followed Deathstroke as he sought revenge on Batman, believing the hero had murdered his son. Manganiello described the story as «a superhero version of David Fincher's The Game,» with Deathstroke attempting to «dismantle Batman's entire life.» The villain's campaign would have included breaking into the Batcave and taking Alfred Pennyworth hostage, with Jeremy Irons likely reprising his role as the butler.
The film also would have featured the death of Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, a role played by J.K. Simmons in the DCEU. Manganiello said Deathstroke would have killed Gordon at some point during the story, raising the stakes for Batman's closest allies. A new Batgirl would have joined Batman for a fight against Deathstroke that nearly kills them both before they «escape via an aboveground train.» It remains unclear whether Leslie Grace, who was cast in a separate canceled Batgirl film, would have played the character in Affleck's movie.
Manganiello went on to describe the film's final fight sequence as a «climactic one-on-one showdown through the streets of Gotham.» Affleck reportedly told him the sequence would have been inspired by a CGI fight from the Batman: Arkham Asylum video game, helmed by Tim Miller. The actor recalled being hopeful about the project at the time, writing that he told Affleck how much he admired his films, particularly The Town, and that he was looking forward to seeing his «Best Picture version of a Batman movie.»
When Manganiello suggested that writing, directing, producing, and starring in a big-budget superhero film sounded like a lot to handle, Affleck reportedly replied, «Yeah, I know… But don't worry, you're in good hands. You're in good hands, man.» The project was ultimately abandoned and later reworked into Matt Reeves' The Batman, released in 2022 with Robert Pattinson in the lead role.
The revelations add to a growing body of information about the canceled DCEU Batman film. Affleck recently said that reshoots for Justice League marked the lowest point in his career, while Manganiello has spoken about his experience being cast as Deathstroke and the disappointment of the cancellation. DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are currently developing new Batman projects, including The Brave and the Bold and The Batman Part 2, the latter of which has set photos suggesting Pattinson's Batsuit may feature Arkham Asylum-inspired armor.