Ben Affleck’s Batman Movie Would Have Featured Arkham Asylum-Inspired Deathstroke Fight and DCEU Batgirl, Joe Manganiello Reveals
Joe Manganiello, who was originally cast as Deathstroke in Ben Affleck’s canceled Batman film, has revealed new details about the unrealized project in his memoir “Bloodlines: A Memoir.” According to excerpts shared by Entertainment Weekly, the standalone Batman movie would have centered on Batman’s conflict with Deathstroke, featuring an Arkham Asylum-inspired fight sequence.
Beyond the primary antagonist, the film would have incorporated the DC Extended Universe version of Batgirl into its narrative. The project was positioned to deliver significant plot developments for Bruce Wayne’s inner circle, including major character reveals and at least one significant death among his closest allies, suggesting Affleck’s Batman film was intended as a consequential DCEU entry.
Manganiello’s firsthand involvement as an actor working alongside Affleck during development provided him with detailed knowledge of these plot points. The project ultimately fell through before the DCEU underwent its eventual reboot into the new DC Universe (DCU) structure.
The revelation offers fans a glimpse into Affleck’s creative vision for a grounded, intense Batman story. Manganiello’s memoir provides rare behind-the-scenes insight into a major Hollywood production that never materialized, documenting what the character-driven film might have achieved.