Deathstroke's Canceled DCEU Movie Storylines Explained By Joe Manganiello

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Joe Manganiello has revealed the unrealized plans for his Deathstroke, aka Slade Wilson, in the DC Extended Universe. Often referred to as the Snyderverse, the DCEU came before James Gunn and Peter Safran took over as the heads of DC Studios. Ben Affleck wanted Deathstroke for his canceled "Batman" film, but that didn't pan out. However, as Manganiello has now explained, many other ideas were on the table.

Manganiello's only screen time as the Deathstroke character came during credits scenes attached to "Justice League," but plans had already been hatched for more. During an interview with Rich Roll to promote his memoir "Bloodlines," Manganiello revealed that the brass at Warner Bros. had more than a few notions about how to utilize him as Deathstroke. That, at one time, included a "Deathstroke" movie from "The Raid" director Gareth Evans, which also didn't pan out. Still, the studio did at least consider him for other projects on the way. Per Manganiello:

"I got to play the character again for, like, two minutes in the reshoots. And for the next six years, there were just project after project and call for my agent after call for my agent about, 'Oh yeah, they're going to use your character in this. You're going to be in this. You're going to be the villain in 'Aquaman 2.' You're going to be in 'Suicide Squad 2' with this director. No, this director. No, you versus Will Smith. Oh, it's going to be a standalone.' Am I lucky or unlucky?"

The "Suicide Squad" sequel lost Will Smith as Deadshot due to scheduling conflicts. Evidently, WB wanted to make a Deadshot vs. Deathstroke movie of some kind after that as well. But that didn't happen, nor was Deathstroke included in "Aquaman 2," which became "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom."

We got our first official look at Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke in November 2017, i.e. damn near nine years ago. Once Ben Affleck's "The Batman" was canceled, though, it was clear that Warner Bros. still wanted to use the actor in some capacity. But the DCEU didn't have a clear direction, as evidenced by the many proposed projects that Manganiello listed off.

"I'm lucky that I got that part, but at the time, I felt like I was unlucky because I got this thing that then got canceled and went away," Manganiello added. "So, I'm like, how unlucky am I? I feel like I'm cursed. I get this thing. It gives me hope, and now it's gone. And then all these other projects are now gone. But looking back, I was lucky that that thing came my way."

Manganiello had serious health issues, resulting in a surgery where his entire large intestine was removed. Hence, as he explained, getting in shape for his DCEU role may well have helped save his life:

"If it wasn't for that role, I don't know that the reconnection would work. I don't know that I'm healthy enough. I don't know that I gain that weight back. I don't know that I can walk. I don't know that I can function the way that I do now. I don't know that mentally I'm in as good a place as I am now. That role. I have the helmet in my office, and it's the greatest accomplishment of my life."

Presently, DC Studios is developing a "Batman" villain team-up movie featuring Bane and Deathstroke for the DC Universe. Unfortunately, Manganiello isn't expected to be involved.

You can order Joe Manganiello's "Bloodlines" from Amazon.