A few weeks before their "Justice League" debut, Warner Bros. is already teasing another DC Entertainment adaptation. But instead of focusing attention on superheroes, this new movie would star a big bad villain, Deathstroke.
Despite the recent pivot to happier, feel-good fare thanks to "Wonder Woman," and with the swashbuckling "Aquaman" movie finally wrapped, Warner Bros. looks to take a risk on a darker, fairly bloody character.
The Times can confirm that "The Raid" director Gareth Evans is in talks to write and direct a "Deathstroke" feature starring former "True Blood" werewolf Joe Manganiello.
However, it looks like most of that cameo has been scrapped in favor of a solo flick.
Deathstroke is a genetically engineered super soldier who goes by the name Slade Joseph Wilson when he's not moonlighting as a mercenary. The character was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez in 1980, first appearing in the comic "New Teen Titans" No. 2. A highly skilled, hyper-violent killer, Deathstroke's weapons of choice are a powerful staff that shoots energy blasts and a sword.
After "Suicide Squad" proved there's money to be made in giving villains a showcase, DC Entertainment has more villain-centric movies in the works, including a Joker origin story in development with Warner Bros. But which movie will actually start production first?