Ben Affleck Batman Movie Reveals Scrapped Deathstroke Fight

As a seasoned gamer with a heart for superhero lore, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia upon revisiting the aborted solo Batman film that Ben Affleck and Jay Oliva had envisioned. The tantalizing glimpses into their vision of a gritty, psychological thriller starring the Dark Knight and Deathstroke have left me yearning for what could have been.

Jay Oliva, a storyboard artist who praised Ben Affleck’s unreleased standalone Batman movie as “incredibly impressive,” has unveiled a visual depiction of a physical confrontation between Batman and Joe Manganiello’s character Deathstroke. Known for his work on films such as Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and the adult animated series Twilight of the Gods, Oliva shared this frame (below) in commemoration of Batman Day 2024.

Last year, Oliva mentioned during an interview that he’s worked on numerous Batman-related projects. What made this experience particularly exciting for him was the opportunity to connect various intriguing Batman narratives that hadn’t been delved into before. He also shared that the upcoming standalone film, co-written by Affleck and former DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, would tackle a topic that had not previously been addressed in comics, but would draw upon Batman mythology from the past 80 years while offering a fresh perspective on it.

Happy BATMAN DAY Everyone! ???#BATMAN
— Jay Oliva (@jayoliva1) September 22, 2024

Additionally, concept sketches of Affleck’s revised Batsuit featuring a grey and black armor-reinforced suit crafted from ballistic materials were unveiled. Alongside this, designer Keith Christensen revealed his design for the combat attire that the masked assassin, who debuted opposite Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor in the 2017 Justice League post-credits scene, would wear.

Although no subsequent scene involving this event was shown, Manganiello revealed on the Comic Book Nation podcast that Slade Wilson attributed the death of his son to Batman. Upon discovering Batman’s true identity from Luthor, Deathstroke vowed to take revenge against Bruce Wayne and his associates, including Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.

In an interview, Manganiello stated that the “Batman” movie was intended to have a similar feel as if David Fincher’s “The Game” were actually happening. He described Deathstroke as gradually tearing apart Bruce Wayne’s life and killing off his associates, ruining his finances, and ultimately trapping him in a desperate situation. The storyline would have been a gripping psychological thriller, with Deathstroke serving as a terrifying horror movie antagonist, much like the shark in “Jaws.

Ben Affleck was initially set to pen and direct a standalone Batman film under Walter Hamada’s DC Films banner, provisionally known as The Batman, within the DC Extended Universe. Initially slated for filming in early 2017, Affleck, known for Argo and The Town, eventually stepped down from the project, with Matt Reeves of War for the Planet of the Apes taking over. Later on, Affleck confirmed he would no longer play Batman, and Reeves rebooted the character with Robert Pattinson stepping into the role of a younger vigilante.

In an interview with GQ in 2020, Affleck shared his feelings about the canceled Batman film: “I discovered I no longer felt the same ardor or drive for it,” he said. “This project should ideally be led by someone who sees it as their ultimate dream, and for me, it had evolved into something else. It was clear to me that it was time to move on. However, I do have some wonderful memories, especially from Batman v Superman, and the thrill of it all, as well as the energy and fun we shared.

2024-09-23 01:10

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