Deathstroke Star Joe Manganiello Speaks Out About Ben Affleck’s Canceled Batman Movie
Actor Joe Manganiello recently opened up about the emotional impact of Ben Affleck’s canceled Batman movie, a project in which he was set to portray Deathstroke as the lead antagonist. Manganiello had previously appeared as the character in a brief post-credits scene in Zack Snyder’s 2017 Justice League, and the standalone Batman film represented a major opportunity for the role.
At the time of his casting, Manganiello was battling a serious autoimmune disease that dramatically affected his health, causing his weight to drop from 235 pounds to 176 pounds. He has revealed that the prospect of playing Deathstroke became a crucial motivator during his recovery, giving him the determination to regain his strength and return to full health.
When discussing the eventual cancellation of the Batman project, Manganiello candidly stated that he “lost my mind when that happened.” The loss extended beyond merely missing out on the acting opportunity—it represented the loss of a personal milestone that had sustained him through a difficult health crisis. The cancellation of Affleck’s Batman film marked the decline of the Snyderverse, which had become a point of contention among DC fans and the broader film industry.
Manganiello’s comments shed light on how career opportunities and personal health can become intertwined, and how the loss of a major project can have ripple effects extending beyond professional disappointment.