The DCU’s Deathstroke and Bane movie has a director you’ll never see coming
Greg Mottola, the director of Superbad and recently Peacemaker’s second season, has emerged as the frontrunner to direct a new film featuring DC villains Deathstroke and Bane for James Gunn’s DC Studios, according to Deadline reporting from May 8. Matthew Orton is writing the project.
The announcement represents an unconventional choice, as Mottola has built his career primarily in comedy filmmaking rather than action blockbusters. Despite his limited superhero experience—having directed two episodes of Peacemaker—this marks his first potential lead directing assignment for a major DC Studios film.
The project arrives as the broader DC Studios slate continues to develop under Gunn’s leadership. The Brave and the Bold, the Batman-focused film previously positioned as a centerpiece of the new DC Universe vision, has reportedly not yet gained significant momentum in development.
Deathstroke and Bane are traditionally serious, formidable antagonists in DC Comics canon, known for their combat prowess and strategic abilities. However, both characters have received more comedic interpretations in animated and adult-oriented media, including Teen Titans Go and Harley Quinn, suggesting Mottola’s involvement could signal a lighter, character-driven approach for this film rather than traditional superhero action.