TheDCUis set to explore a variety of heroes and villains in upcoming movies, games and TV shows, but an unexpected team-up also appears to be in the works in the form of aBane and Deathstrokemovie. While the DCEU has officially been retired, and Warner Bros. is getting prepared to launch their new DCU under the watchful eye of James Gunn and Peter Safran, the list of projects confirmed remains fairly small. Ahead of the DCU’s debut in theaters withSupermancoming in 2025, there are a handful of shows set in the DCU and it’s accompanying Elseworlds.
Beyond that, the DCU is expected to introduce many of the biggest players from DC’s Justice League over the course of the next few years, but there will also be a number of villains who get a chance to take the spotlight. In fact, after a recenttease from James Gunn aboutDeathstrokeappearing in the DCU, there has been further confirmation that the villain commonly linked to Batman will likely star in a separate project. And in addition to the legendary mercenary, they will be joined by another of Batman’s rogues in the form of Bane.
DC Are Developing A Bane And Deathstroke Team-Up Movie
Bane And Deathstroke Could Be The Next Deadpool & Wolverine
On September 27,The Hollywood Reporterexclusively reported that theDCU is currently developing a Bane and Deathstroke movie. There were precious few details about the project, except for the fact that sources confirmed that such a film was in the early stages of development. How and why these villains come together is unclear, and not something that has been seen in other projects, but it does provide an exciting opportunity for the DCU to introduce some exciting villains.
Deadpool is a character that was inspired by Deathstroke, and after the recent success ofDeadpool & Wolverine, it’s interesting to see the DCU adapting an anti-hero team up movie of their own.
However,Gunn has been clear that any project made within the DCUwill need to have an approved script before work begins on the project. With this in mind, thework being done on the project is still in the earliest stages, with the story being laid out, and if the right script is not delivered, it could put a stop to the project. Fortunately, there is already a writer attached to try and get this movie made.
Bane & Deathstroke’s Writer Confirmed
The Captain America: Brave New World Writer Is Working With The DCU
Matthew Orton, who also worked onCaptain America: Brave New World’sscreenplay, is currently tagged as the man working on theBane and Deathstrokescript.Orton is still a relatively fresh writer, who previously wrote one of the episodes for another Marvel project,Moon Knight, and developed and created the show,Devil’s Peak. For the most part, his work appears to have strong political undercurrents, which will again come into play forBrave New World.
Will the Bane and Deathstroke movie be part of the DCU?
A new bombshell DC report has revealed that a Bane and Deathstroke movie is in development. So far, which universe it will be part of has not been revealed, only that Matthew Orton (Captain America: Brave New World) penned the script. As it stands, the Bane and Deathstroke movie could either be part of James Gunn’s new DC Universe, director Matt Reeves' The Batman universe, or an Elseworlds project like Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker franchise. As it stands, I believe the film would make the most sense for the DCU, perhaps later being revealed as a Secret Six film in disguise.
How this relates towhat the story could be in aBane and Deathstrokemovieis not entirely clear. It’s possible that these villains will be pitted against each other early on, and eventually team-up. Or, they may find themselves chasing a common goal, which puts them into an uncomfortable alliance. However, it may be interesting to see these characters appear in a more fun capacity relative to projects likeThe Suicide Squad, but this all depends on the tone of the DCU, and where this movie would fit into that larger canvas.
Bane & Deathstroke Delivers On James Gunn’s Recent Tease
James Gunn Is Already Delivering On His DCU Promises
Recently,James Gunn took to social media, as he often does, to answer fan questions and dispel rumors about the DCU. During one of these occasions, a curious poster asked whether Deathstroke would appear in the DCU, and if so, to respond with a winking emoji. Gunn was clearly tickled by the request, and he responded with a winking emoji, clearly confirming the poster’s question.
Since then, rumors have swirled about where and whenDeathstroke could appear in the DCU, but this latest news confirms his role may be bigger than first expected. If the character is set to lead a new movie alongside Bane, hecould easily have a big part to play in the next chapter of the DCU. Of course, the details are still under wraps, but the mere fact that the character is being earmarked for a possible villain team-up movie highlights his importance to the future of the DCU.
Everything Else You Need To Know About Bane & Deathstroke
Does This Villain Team-Up Work For The DCU?
Bane and Deathstroke have been adapted for both the big and small screens before. Bane was most notably portrayed by Tom Hardy inThe Dark Knight Rises, and Deathstroke has been adapted for several different shows, including by Manu Bennett inArrow. However, theDCU is likely to recast the characters, which will mean the actors chosen can be guaranteed to have solid chemistry for the team-up movie.
Who should play Deathstroke in his DC movie with Bane?
Deathstroke will be coming to live-action in the future in a movie alongside Bane. Joe Manganiello will not be reprising the role, which opens the door for some exciting names to take over. If it’s just a one-off movie, DC could finally cast Avatar’s Stephen Lang as Deathstroke, making fan’s wishes come true after many years. However, if the movie is meant to be part of the new DCU, then an actor younger than Lang should be cast. Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln, and The Mandalorian’s Timothy Olyphant would make for great Deathstroke choices.
In the past,Dave Bautista expressed his interest in playing Bane, though he has recently decided to look for less physically demanding roles. In terms of who could play Deathstroke, there have actually been recent attempts to get a solo movie off the ground starring the character. Gareth Evans had penned a script for a film, set to star Joe Manganiello as the lead after he appeared as the character in a deleted scene from 2017s Justice League. Despite that project being scrapped with the rest of the DCEU, Deathstroke may finally get a chance to shine in thisBane and Deathstrokeproject, though likely with another actor in the role.
