Manganiello Reveals Deathstroke Would Have Killed Jim Gordon in Scrapped Affleck Batman Film

Key points

• Joe Manganiello's memoir 'Bloodlines' reveals that Deathstroke would have killed Commissioner Jim Gordon in the canceled Ben Affleck Batman film.
• The movie was described by Manganiello as a 'superhero version of David Fincher's The Game,' focusing on dismantling Batman's personal life.
• The film would have featured a midpoint fight where Deathstroke nearly kills Batman and Batgirl before they escape via an above-ground train.
• The climax would have been a one-on-one street chase through Gotham, inspired by the 2013 game Batman: Arkham Origins.
• The project was scrapped, and the Deathstroke role was later reimagined for a different DC Universe continuity featuring Michael Keaton as Batman.

Background

In October 2026, Joe Manganiello released his memoir 'Bloodlines,' which detailed his near-death illness and his decision to accept the role of Deathstroke in Ben Affleck's Batman film despite being critically ill. The film was ultimately canceled, and the role was later reimagined for a different DC Universe continuity featuring Michael Keaton as Batman. The scrapped 'Batgirl' film was made to fit around changes to the DC Universe, and it is unclear if Affleck's 'The Batman' would have been Batgirl's origin or if she still would have had a solo origin movie.

How outlets are covering it

Gizmodo and SlashFilm both report on Manganiello's memoir, but SlashFilm provides more context on the film's connection to the DC Universe and the scrapped 'Batgirl' film. Gizmodo emphasizes the brutal nature of the film, while SlashFilm focuses on the emotional weight of killing Jim Gordon and the film's connection to Frank Miller's Batman books. Yahoo's article is less detailed and does not provide as much context as the other two sources.

Why it matters

The canceled Ben Affleck Batman film was a major project in the DC Extended Universe, and its cancellation was a significant blow to the franchise. The details revealed by Manganiello provide insight into the film's potential and the reasons for its cancellation. The film's brutal storyline and the emotional weight of killing Jim Gordon would have been a significant departure from the traditional Batman narrative, and its cancellation may have been due to concerns about its impact on the franchise.

What to watch

The scrapped 'Batgirl' film was made to fit around changes to the DC Universe, and it is unclear if Affleck's 'The Batman' would have been Batgirl's origin or if she still would have had a solo origin movie. The role of Deathstroke was later reimagined for a different DC Universe continuity featuring Michael Keaton as Batman. The emotional weight of killing Jim Gordon in the scrapped film may have been a factor in its cancellation, and the film's brutal storyline may have been a significant departure from the traditional Batman narrative.