Zack Snyder Reveals a Striking New Look at Deathstroke

Zack Snyder seems to be having a great time on Instagram these days. The director, best known for his work on DC films, has been using the platform to share behind-the-scenes moments from his biggest movies. Fans of the DCEU have especially enjoyed the glimpses into his superhero world.

Just last week, Snyder posted a never-before-seen shot of Henry Cavill as Superman from the set of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Now, he’s shared another treat for fans, a behind-the-scenes look at Deathstroke.

The image was posted with a caption where Snyder thanked actor Joe Manganiello for being the perfect Deathstroke and bringing the deadly assassin to life.

Manganiello first appeared as Deathstroke in the post-credits scene of Justice League (2017). In that short moment, the character meets Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg, on a yacht. Luthor teases the idea of forming a league of villains, a setup that hinted at big plans for future DC movies that, sadly, never happened.

Originally, Deathstroke was supposed to be the main villain in Ben Affleck’s version of The Batman. Affleck was planning to direct and star in that version himself, and the story reportedly would have focused on Deathstroke slowly tearing apart Bruce Wayne’s life piece by piece.

However, Affleck left the project, and the film eventually became Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022), starring Robert Pattinson in a completely separate version of the DC universe.

Still, Joe Manganiello wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the character. He wrote his own Deathstroke script and even got some interest from Warner Bros. for a while. Unfortunately, it didn’t move forward as the studio decided to reboot the DC universe entirely.

Deathstroke, however, might still have a future in live-action. In September 2024, reports surfaced that a film featuring both Bane and Deathstroke was being developed, with Matthew Orton writing the screenplay.

In February, DC Studios co-head James Gunn confirmed that Orton was indeed working on a project for DC, though he clarified that it wasn’t directly centered on those two characters but had a similar tone and concept. Filming for the movie was expected to take place this year at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in England.

Snyder’s new photo has once again reminded fans what could have been if Deathstroke had gotten more screen time in the DCEU. Manganiello’s short but memorable appearance left a lasting impression, and it’s clear Snyder still has a soft spot for the actor and the character.

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