Fans have good reason to be excited about the upcoming solo Batman movie, at least according to Deathstroke actor Joe Manganiello (who will play Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke, in the film). The Magic Mike actor spoke to Mark Madden about the film, which is tentatively tiled The Batman.
“When I met Ben we sat down and we talked about, you know, the role,” Manganiello said. “We talked about the movie. His take is a fresh take but I think the audience is going to be surprised. Because it’s a road that no one’s really gone down that’s completely integral to, you know, who Batman is. And I think it’s gonna be refreshing but at the same time completely familiar. But it’s going to take this franchise in a direction that I think A LOT of people are going to be really happy about. It’s going to be gritty and action packed and cerebral and all of those elements that people love about Batman.”
The actor also had much praise for the multiple Oscar-winning Argo director/Good Will Hunting screenwriter.
“Ben’s a great director, man,” added Manganiello. “I mean the last movie that man directed won best picture. He’s got an Oscar for writing. Like, this is all the components to go down as a… everything is lined up for a really really really great movie. Not only a superhero movie but just a great great movie.”
Manganiello will face off against Ben Affleck’s Batman in the film, with additional appearances by Jeremy Irons as Alfred and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon expected to happen as well. Affleck will both star in the film and sit in the director’s chair. DC Entertainment President and CCO Geoff Johns will serve as co-writer (with Affleck) and producer.
An official release date for The Batman hasn’t been set, but Warner Bros. has previously announced release dates for untitled movies on both October 5, 2018 and November 1, 2019, meaning it could come on either of those dates.
