Joe Manganiello has revealed new plot details about Ben Affleck's canceled Batman movie, describing an Arkham Asylum-inspired fight with Deathstroke and the potential involvement of Batgirl.
In his new book, Bloodlines: A Memoir, Manganiello, who was cast as Slade Wilson, shared insights from his time working with Affleck on the abandoned project. Excerpts published by Entertainment Weekly suggest the film would have delved deeply into Deathstroke's quest for revenge against Batman. The narrative was envisioned as a "superhero version of David Fincher's The Game," with Deathstroke aiming to dismantle Batman's entire life.
Manganiello previously shared that Deathstroke's motivation stemmed from a belief that Batman had murdered his son. While Affleck's Batman had a history of taking lives, the extent of his involvement in the son's death remained unclear. Deathstroke's rampage was set to include an infiltration of the Batcave and the taking of Alfred Pennyworth hostage. J.K. Simmons' Commissioner Jim Gordon was also slated to be killed by Deathstroke during the film's events.
Adding to the planned chaos, a new Batgirl was expected to join Batman in a fight against Deathstroke, a confrontation that would have nearly cost them both their lives before an escape via an aboveground train. This Batgirl's appearance would have marked the character's debut in the DCEU, predating the also-canceled standalone Batgirl movie starring Leslie Grace.
The climactic fight sequence between Batman and Deathstroke was described by Affleck as inspired by a CGI fight scene from the video game Batman: Arkham Asylum. This may refer to the fight sequence depicted in the first trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins, which featured a lengthy battle between the two characters in a snowy shipyard.
Affleck's Batman movie was ultimately canceled and reworked into what became Matt Reeves' The Batman, released in 2022. Reflecting on the project, Manganiello recalled being hopeful about Affleck's vision, noting that the actor felt he was in "good hands."
While Affleck's Batman film will likely never see the light of day, DC Studios is moving forward with new live-action Batman projects, including The Brave and the Bold and The Batman Part 2. Set photos for the latter suggest Robert Pattinson's Batsuit may feature new Arkham Asylum-inspired armor.