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.

Zendaya is heading back into the world of science fiction for a new project from filmmaker Alex Garland.

The actress is set to star in an untitled sci-fi film for A24 that will be written and directed by Garland. Plot details are currently being kept under wraps, but production is expected to begin in 2027.

The film will continue Zendaya’s relationship with A24 following Euphoria and The Drama. It also marks another collaboration between Garland and the studio after projects including Civil War, Men and Warfare.

Garland has become one of the most recognizable filmmakers working in modern science fiction, with previous credits including Ex Machina, Annihilation and the FX series Devs.

He is also currently developing A24’s upcoming adaptation of Elden Ring, which is scheduled for release in March 2028.

Zendaya has remained one of Hollywood’s busiest stars, with major franchise projects continuing across Spider-Man and Dune. Her pairing with Garland now adds another high profile sci-fi project to her growing slate.

No title, additional cast members or release date have been announced.

Pierce Brown’s bestselling sci-fi series Red Rising is officially headed to the big screen.

Paramount is developing a feature film adaptation of Red Rising, with The Hunger Games filmmaker Francis Lawrence set to direct.

The story is based on Brown’s 2014 novel, which launched a hugely popular science fiction series centered on Darrow, a member of the lowest social class in a futuristic society built around a rigid color-based caste system.

After discovering that his people have been deceived and exploited, Darrow becomes involved in a rebellion aimed at dismantling the society from within.

Lawrence is no stranger to large scale dystopian franchises. The filmmaker has directed multiple installments of The Hunger Games, including Catching Fire, both Mockingjay films, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping.

A Red Rising adaptation has been discussed in Hollywood for years, but Paramount’s involvement and Lawrence’s addition mark one of the biggest steps yet toward finally bringing the story to theaters.

Casting and a potential release date have not yet been announced.