Joe Manganiello has revealed new details about the abandoned Batman movie that would have starred and been directed by Ben Affleck, offering another glimpse at what DC fans missed when the project fell apart.

Manganiello was originally set to play Slade Wilson, better known as Deathstroke, opposite Affleck’s Batman. The character briefly appeared at the end of Justice League, teasing a much larger role in the DC universe.

Manganiello described Affleck’s Batman movie as a much darker story, with Deathstroke essentially tearing Bruce Wayne’s life apart piece by piece.

“It was a really dark story in which Deathstroke was like a shark or a horror movie villain who was dismantling Bruce’s life from the inside out… It was this systemic thing: He killed everyone close to Bruce and destroyed his life to try and make him suffer because he felt that Bruce was responsible for something that happened to him.”

Rather than simply trying to defeat Batman physically, Deathstroke would have attacked Bruce Wayne from every direction, targeting the people closest to him and stripping away the life he had built before eventually confronting him directly.

Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne [Warner bros.]

The story would have positioned Deathstroke as more than a traditional comic book villain. Manganiello’s description makes the character sound almost like a relentless horror movie antagonist, methodically closing in on Bruce and leaving destruction behind him.

Affleck had been developing the standalone Batman movie following his appearances in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Manganiello’s Deathstroke was expected to play a major role, but the project eventually went through major changes.

Affleck stepped away as director before ultimately leaving the Batman role altogether. Matt Reeves later took control of the franchise and developed an entirely different version of the character with Robert Pattinson starring in 2022’s The Batman.

Manganiello’s Deathstroke never received the larger role that had originally been planned, although his brief appearance remains one of the biggest reminders of the DC storyline that never came together.

Nearly a decade later, details about Affleck’s canceled Batman movie continue to fascinate fans, especially as more information emerges about just how dark and personal the battle between Batman and Deathstroke would have been.

Matt Reeves has directly addressed his temporary absence from The Batman Part II, making it clear that he is still very much involved with the highly anticipated DC sequel.

Steven Soderbergh is stepping in to help oversee the final stretch of principal photography while Reeves attends to a family matter. The arrangement will allow production to continue while Reeves remains connected to the film and its creative direction.

The Batman II [dc studios]

“Just to be clear, I am not leaving The Batman Part II. I am profoundly grateful to Steven for coming to my aid during this challenging time to help me finish principal photography. Thank you to all for your concern and well wishes.”

Just to be clear, I am not leaving The Batman Part II. I am profoundly grateful to Steven for coming to my aid during this challenging time to help me finish principal photography. Thank you to all for your concern and well wishes. 🦇

— Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) October 15, 2026

Soderbergh is expected to work closely with the existing cast and crew to complete the remaining material while maintaining the visual style and direction Reeves has already established.

Reeves is still the director of The Batman Part II and is expected to continue overseeing the film once principal photography is completed.

Robert Pattinson returns as Bruce Wayne and Batman, with Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis and Colin Farrell also returning. Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan are among the major new additions to the sequel.

The Batman Part II is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on February 18, 2028.

The first reactions to DC Studios’ Clayface have arrived, and the upcoming Batman villain film appears to be leaning fully into its horror roots.

Directed by James Watkins, Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an actor who suffers a devastating facial injury before undergoing an experimental treatment that transforms his body and ultimately turns him into the shape shifting character known as Clayface.

Early reactions following screenings have been largely positive, with viewers praising the film’s gruesome body horror, dark atmosphere and Harries’ performance in the lead role.

Collider’s Steven Weintraub called the film “fantastic” while noting that it delivers an R rated experience filled with brutal moments.

Clayface [DC Studios]

Brandon Davis described Clayface as “freakishly awesome,” praising Watkins’ unsettling version of Gotham and the creative ways the film uses Clayface’s abilities.

Several reactions have also compared the movie to classic body horror films such as The Fly and Sam Raimi’s Darkman, suggesting DC Studios has created something much closer to a traditional horror movie than a typical superhero release.

Harries has received particularly strong praise, with multiple early viewers pointing to Clayface as a potential breakout performance for the actor.

Naomi Ackie stars alongside Harries as Dr. Caitlyn Corr, the scientist whose experimental treatment plays a major role in Hagen’s transformation. The cast also includes Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan and David Dencik.

Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, Clayface [dc studios]

The screenplay was written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini from a story by Flanagan, while James Gunn, Peter Safran, Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris serve as producers.

Clayface also represents another major tonal shift for the developing DC Universe. Rather than treating every project as a traditional comic book blockbuster, DC Studios appears willing to use individual characters to explore completely different genres.

If the early reactions are any indication, Clayface may be one of the studio’s biggest swings yet.

Clayface arrives in theaters October 23, 2026.