Joe Manganiello, who portrayed Deathstroke in a memorable cameo, has shared his thoughts on the cancellation of Ben Affleck's planned Batman movie and its personal impact.
Manganiello had been cast as the primary antagonist for Affleck's solo Batman film, a project that was ultimately shelved. During this period, the actor was battling a serious autoimmune disease that caused him to lose significant weight. He revealed that the prospect of playing Deathstroke provided him with the motivation to recover and regain his health.
"I just knew I needed to fight. I needed to get in better shape, I needed to gain the weight back that I had lost in the hospital," Manganiello told Entertainment Weekly. The planned film was reportedly ambitious in scope, aiming to incorporate approximately 80 years of Batman lore.
Ben Affleck was initially slated to write and direct the project, with himself starring as Batman. However, he eventually stepped down from directing duties. The film's development, along with the broader trajectory of Snyder's DCEU, concluded with releases like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023, rendering Manganiello's planned role obsolete.
"I lost my mind when that happened," Manganiello recounted of the Batman film's cancellation. "It was so tough. Because I took me being offered that role as the villain of Batman as the universe saying it’s gonna be okay. And when it went away, I didn’t have that to fight for anymore. And it was almost like, I now looked in the mirror, and for the first time since getting sick and having surgery, I saw the scars and I realized this didn’t happen to someone else — this happened to you."
He has since come to view the experience differently, stating, "At the time I saw it as being unlucky. What I came to understand through the full journey was that I was lucky to get it. It was never meant to be for me. It was there to make sure I didn’t stop fighting, and that I was in the best shape possible for when they tried to reconnect my digestive system."
Despite having moved past the personal health struggles and the disappointment of the canceled film, Manganiello still feels a connection to the character. His Deathstroke helmet is a constant reminder in his office. When asked about reprising the role, he responded, "I’ve been to hell and back. You want a warrior? You know who to call."
Affleck himself recently discussed the demise of his Batman film on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. He indicated that his experience with the reshoots for Justice League was a significant factor in his decision to distance himself from directing a DC film.
"The truth is, the experience of Justice League was so, so negative for lots of different reasons," Affleck explained. "Some of which having to do with where I was personally, some of which having to do with the tragedy that happened during the time, and also the fact that I really saw how not to make a movie like that when the studio is at odds with the filmmaker. You're really making a mistake. That was what really doomed that."
Meanwhile, production is underway for The Batman Part 2, with Robert Pattinson and Matt Reeves continuing their take on the character. Filming for this sequel recently paused as director Matt Reeves stepped away for personal reasons, with a planned early 2028 release.