Joe Manganiello knows if he's still in 'The Batman', but can't talk about it

The last time we heard from Joe Manganiello he wasn't sure if he was still going to star in The Batman as Deathstroke. Since then, plans have become more clear. Now Manganiello knows what his future as Deathstroke looks like, but unfortunately he can't talk about it.

Here's what Manganiello had to say about the matter in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter:

I think a lot of people are wondering what the status of Deathstroke is in the next Batman movie now that Ben Affleck is off the project as director. Do you have any information about that?
I don’t. Well, I do but nothing that I can share. I know everything but I can’t say any of it.
Was that imparted in a happy way or a downtrodden way? I’m trying to interpret the fluctuations in your tone.
[Pause.] I’m shooting for a neutral tone.
You’re succeeding.
Thanks.
Any idea when we’ll find out?
It’s not up to me. That’s a good question for Warner Bros. and D.C.

It's hard to gauge Manganiello's tone via text, and even the interviewer speaking to him wasn't sure if he was happy or upset with what he was saying.

With Matt Reeves confirming that he's not using Ben Affleck's script and is starting over from scratch, I think for now it's best to assume that Deathstroke is not part of the movie. But with all of the preparation that Manganiello has already put into the role, let's hope there's still room for his Deathstroke somewhere in the DC Extended Universe.

What do you make of Manganiello's comments? Let me know below.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter

54 comments

TØM

July 28, 2017

I think this means he's still involved. I'm sure if he wasn't he'd probably be (rightfully) pissy about it and just say he wasn't. Or if he isn't in the movie he'll still be involved in the DCEU.

TheHummuss
July 31, 2017
Yeah I took it as a "We will use you for sure....just not sure how yet".
Mangianello doesn't necessarily have to be Deathstroke - plenty of other rogues to choose from.

TopHatCowboy

July 28, 2017

If he's not in this movie (although I think he will, just in a smaller capacity) then he's definitely gonna show up in the Nightwing movie

Ryan

July 28, 2017

Joe will be our next BATMAN!

Tom of Steel
July 28, 2017
Stop

Ravager

July 28, 2017

The plot thickens

Jack Thorne

July 28, 2017

It's probably the end of Deathstroke in THE BATMAN, but not in the DCEU. He'll have his day.

As much as it would've been awesome to see a live action version of this:

https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

...Slade Wilson must be sacrificed at the altar of Reeves' creative control. He should do THE BATMAN he wants to do.

alec

July 28, 2017

If he's not in The Batman I still want to see him in the DCEU, based on the announced movies he should be in the Nightwing movie.

Carl

July 28, 2017

Damn this is maddening. I hope he is still involved. His fanaticism for the character comes through when talking about it so I'm genuinely hoping he gets it.

Batman93

July 28, 2017

He's probably gonna show up in something, either The Batman or other DCEU movie (Nightwing, probably, as some of you guys are pointing out). I mean, he is a perfect Slade Wilson visualy speaking, after all. Looking forward to see him in action, maybe against Batffleck some day

UltimateEdition

July 28, 2017

I honestly don't care at this point

Alan Conn
July 28, 2017
:p

Black Adam

July 28, 2017

One thing I don't understand... that footage of Deathstroke on Flying Fox in front of Batmobile is from where exactly? Justice League?
I know there was talk how that was from Ben's testing Deathstroke's look for The Batman movie and shit, and that's fine, but like... who paid for the costume? That's not cheap man...
And I know Affleck who's a great fan of Batman said once how he wanted Batman's costume from BvS but it was too expensive even for him... so again, why paying for a costume for a non-existing movie...
I'm confused...

Schuyler Finley
July 28, 2017
I'm willing to be crazy and bet that it's Slade who Alfred is talking to.
1. Schuyler Finley
  July 28, 2017
  Eh, my mind just doesn't want to believe it is Superman. The only way it would make sense is if Bruce had talked to Lex or Bruce had buit Cyborg Superman.
  1. Schuyler Finley
    July 28, 2017
    Maybe it's just one of his poker buddies who showed up late.
    1. Schuyler Finley
      July 28, 2017
      Nah. The info would have to come from Lex or Cyborg. They're probably the only two on Earth who know how to access it.
2. FUN
  July 28, 2017
  Shazam
3. SJ1986
  July 28, 2017
  Come on guys... it's Superman
StarTheory
July 28, 2017
He was already signed on and the script was in development...

RandomShinigami7

July 28, 2017

I get the impression that he is still Deathstroke in the DCEU. However the real question is if he'll still appear in The Batman or in a different DCEU film. If he is still in The Batman then I think it would be a severely limited role. Think of him going from being the main villain to a cameo at best.

Izzy Sandoval

July 28, 2017

What if the person that Alfred is talking to at the end of the new JL trailer is Nightwing (Armie Hammer, perhaps)? Would make sense given what is being said by Alfred in that scene. A Nightwing cameo would make sense to help set up the Nightwing solo movie, and that movie could feature Deathstroke as the villain.

sbs138
July 28, 2017
Yeah, because Nightwing is going to save the Justice League from an alien invasion. Also, don't you think Alfred would have a bit of a different reaction to seeing Dick Grayson again?
TØM
July 28, 2017
Why 👏 Are 👏 People 👏 *Literally* 👏 Obsessed 👏 With 👏 Armie 👏 Hammer 👏 Being 👏 In 👏 The 👏DCEU
1. Peartdahurt
  July 28, 2017
  Thank you! It's beyond annoying.
2. Alan Conn
  July 28, 2017
  He's a good actor... But he's OBVIOUSLY NOT going to be Nightwing... That's ridiculous and would be utter shit casting.
  1. Brad Hub
    July 30, 2017
    Truly! shit casting.
3. Snoopy and The Red Baron
  July 29, 2017
  If you think about it, fan-casting is just another more nuanced version of stereotyping. When people hoped way-back-when that Bryan Cranston would be Lex Luthor, I groaned to myself every time. "He's bald and is a good actor he MUST be Lex Luthor OMG he was born for the role." This kind of stuff influences movies, TV shows, business, and politics. The amount of people who swear they know exactly who is right for some position is ludicrous. What's worse is the people who encourage it or make those decisions. It's stuff like this that gets actors type-cast and stuck in a one-dimensional role for the rest of their careers; because people have preconceived notions in their heads about who should do what, and they get pissy when that doesn't happen. Think about every major controversial casting you can think of, and it's probably because people stereotyped the actor or the character the actor was going to be.
  1. TØM
    July 30, 2017
    Absolutely! Although I can see why people wanted Cranston to be Luthor. He was amazing in Breaking Bad.
    I wonder how many people had Affleck on their radar for Batman. I know I never, and I love his portrayal. Although to be honest I've never really given much thought to casting for Batman himself, I'm more likely to do it for other characters in the universe once Batman has been cast haha.

LordofFlies

July 28, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Kouglof

July 28, 2017

He could be a Boba Fett-style villain which appear in the Batman trilogy.

Captain DC

July 28, 2017

https://uploads.disquscdn.c... YES! He's learning! Both Affleck and Manganiello, were way too open last year. Doug Liman hyping up Justice League Dark, only to end up leaving the project shortly after. No need to try to "win" the interview, by teasing the fans. Only to have it backfire on you, and create more negative press for the DCEU. Be smart.

Snoopy and The Red Baron
July 29, 2017
Honestly, teasing delivers a more fulfilling and rewarding experience (not limited to just press coverage for movies, wink wink). Your anticipation builds towards an expectation, but you don't even know what your expectations are because you haven't been given anything until now. When all is finally revealed, it's a more mind-blowing experience. This is why I have started to watch fewer movie trailers, because by the time the movie comes around, too much may have been shown.

sczanthuk

July 28, 2017

I think he's still in The Batman but after Affleck stepping down as director and axing the script to his movie, I don't think Matt Reeves has Deathstroke in mind as the main villain. I'm pretty sure, WB, DC, and himself are gonna square Ben Affleck's Batman against The Joker. Now the real question is if Jared Leto's in it or not.

Ignoring all the clickbait articles that spread bullshit about DC, pretty sure his contract is for three movies just like Ben Affleck. There is no way they're taking off Leto after the chemistry with Margot Robbie and after the success of SS. So Jared Leto more than likely is returning as The Joker for at least, The Batman and either Gotham City Sirens or Justice League Part 2 for his final outing before his contract is finished.

Johgry
July 28, 2017
Yeah I think Leto is still gonna be the Joker for awhile longer. Woudn't make sense for continuity if he wasn't since they already established him as The Joker in DCEU. And no, Flashpoint won't do anything. If you know the Flashpoint story, you know at the end Barry goes back in time and fixes everything.
1. MrMovies
  July 30, 2017
  Aside from Wildstrom and Vertigo getting combined into the main DCU.
2. Hunter Zolomon
  July 31, 2017
  "If you know the Flashpoint story, you know at the end Barry goes back in time and fixes everything." Have you actually read Flashpoint because a huge amount had changed when he "fixed" things like the whole bloody N52 and the mountains of history erased and altered. Granted thats been retconned so that Manhatten was behind it but that wasn't the case for quite a number of years.

SJ1986

July 28, 2017

That's a definite yes then!

Glenn Brown

July 28, 2017

maybe SUICIDE SQUAD 2 ???

Trickster in the Moonlight

July 28, 2017

If he can't talk about it, that must mean he's still involved, but still, I find it highly disrespectful from Warner.

Diego!

July 28, 2017

Mmmm I hope he does appear at least twice. On The Batman and maybe Nightwing or Batgirl movies 😊

Wazzapova

July 28, 2017

He's obviously still involved if he can't talk about it 😂. I can't wait to see him in the uncoming films.

Saudefh Sauri Denis

July 28, 2017

I think he was involved in justice league. Why to make some tests if they were not even in pre-production for the batman?? I bet he was introduced in a short scene for the film.

Fotbollsgurun

July 28, 2017

Hope he is still involved. I like the idea of him playing the character.

Jack Slater IV

July 28, 2017

I would love to see him as the villain in Nightwing, and then he can join the team for Suicide Squad 3.

Arkham Psyche

July 28, 2017

Tbh, he'd have been great in The Batman, but imo technically being a teen titan villain originally (who has excelled in Rocksteadys series, and Arrow) then being the Nightwing or GCS villain would be ultra immense. Bludhaven in many ways is more screwed up than Gotham. Plenty to go around ;)

Bob Burger

July 28, 2017

Nightwing vs Deathstroke. The man in his prime vs the enhanced elder, I wanna see it!

Alan Conn

July 28, 2017

Man this doesn't sound promising but I really do hope he's still involved. I must say it seems odd that if he's not in the film why he wouldn't just say he's no longer involved and save a tremendous amount of speculation.

Sisyphus

July 29, 2017

He should just be part of Justice League and give him a key role in infiltrating Darkseid's plan :)

Yellowshitoutmyass

July 29, 2017

With all the hard work and genuine passion Manganiello has shown in the character and the fact that he's an ideal fit for role by virtue of his impressive physique and countenance, I think he should at least have a scene or two. I mean, the dude freaking trained with real kantanas and hired Japanese swordsmen and got his hands on techniques that have been made secret because of their immoral brutality. It could be done elegantly without deterring from the plot. Make it happen Reeves!

Brad Hub

July 29, 2017

I hope Manganiello is out. There are much better actors out there. He is a B actor who might be best suited for direct to DVD or some show on CBS.

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Joe Manganiello knows if he's still in 'The Batman', but can't talk about it

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