Ben Affleck‘s solo Batman film is moving forward pretty quickly. Earlier today, Affleck revealed that the much anticipated reboot will be called The Batman. Affleck also revealed a few of the reasons that perennial Teen Titans villain, Deathstroke, was chosen as The Batman‘s big bad. Which means today’s Nerdist News is lighting the Bat-Signal and examining the clues!
Via an interview with Collider, Affleck said, “I just had an instinctive feeling that [Deathstroke] would match up with [Batman] well…You know, I’m a big admirer of that character, especially in the New 52…and I thought that it could work.” He’s not wrong. Deathstroke has always been a formidable character, and he’s one of the few villains who can challenge Batman physically and mentally. New 52 Deathstroke has been more of an antihero than a villain, but somehow we doubt Batman’s next solo flick is going to dwell on Slade Wilson’s personal drama. And how does Deathstroke fit in with the previous rumors that The Batman would be the ultimate Batman movie?
Join Nerdist News host, and Arkham Asylum’s newest security chief, Jessica Chobot, as she lays out our theory. Which, by the way, is typed out here if you don’t want spoilers: Do you remember the end credits scene of Suicide Squad that hinted at tension between Bruce Wayne and Amanda Waller and the fact that several members of the Squad have history with Gotham’s Dark Knight? What if Deathstroke is leading a new government-sanctioned team of Batman’s greatest villains to take him down once-and-for-all? That could be an even more amoral version of the Suicide Squad.
There are also some reasons to suspect that Deathstroke is working with Lex Luthor in the first Justice League film, assuming his appearance there will be more than just a tag scene. However, the possibilities are very exciting!
How do you think that Deathstroke will be used in The Batman? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!