Before Robert Pattinson’s The Batman was Ben Affleck’s The Batman, where the latter was initially supposed to helm and star in his own DCEU solo film.
Joe Manganiello was originally part of the abandoned solo film, portraying the comic book villain, Deathstroke.
During Zack Snyder’s Justice League panel at the Full Circle event (via The Direct), Ben Affleck opened up on how he envisioned Deathstroke would be.
“There were a number of them that I was kind of exploring. And the plans were to make interesting, nuanced, complex characters, in particular to the character you mentioned.” Affleck said.
He then shared: “I kind of feel like either you do — I’m just going to get into my own preference here — but either you do a kind of massive on villain that is so formidable you just can’t imagine how your protagonist is going to be able to overcome it.”
“Or,” he suggested, “You have to really sort of populate, kind of, you know, Injustice — these big group villains — where you have to get all these different characters.”
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Deathstroke first appeared in 2017's Justice League’s as well as in Zack Snyder’s Justice League’s post-credits scene.
It’s a pity Affleck’s Caped Crusader didn’t get the chance to clash with him.
Plans about Deathstroke had been made public since 2016, ahead of 2017’s Justice League, after all.
The least Affleck could provide was some of the details the DCU fans missed from the canceled solo film.
“So I was at the time really trying to hone in and focus on that character and get into depth and detail about it to make him seem as impressive as I felt there was the opportunity to do.” Affleck added.
“That’s the only detail I have for you.”
In the meantime, you can check out Ben Affleck’s return as the Caped Crusader in DC’s The Flash, coming out in theaters on June 16.
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