Joe Manganiello is set to play mercenary for hire Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke, in Ben Affleck’s upcoming standalone movie “The Batman.” But what villain will hire Wilson to put down Bruce Wayne? We came up with 12 possibilities.
12. Black Mask
Roman Sionis, a former business executive who originally hated Bruce Wayne rather than Batman, wears a black wooden mask and leads the cult-like society of False Facers. Black Mask eventually became a mob boss controlling large sections of Gotham City’s criminal underworld. In the Arkham video game series, Black Mask hires Deathstroke to take out Batman.
11. Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor tried to get Superman to fight Batman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and was paid a visit by Batman when Lex was jailed at the end of the film. Could Lex seek revenge by hiring Deathstroke?
10 Mystery Bad Guy Created for Movie
Could a new villain be created specifically for the movie or an amalgamation of existing DC characters as in “Batman Begins?” That is always a possibility.
9. The Joker
Batman’s biggest foe has every reason to hire Deathstroke. In the Arkham video games, Joker placed a $50 million bounty on the Dark Knight’s head and hired eight of the world’s most deadliest assassins to take him down.
8. Hush
Hush is the childhood best friend of Bruce Wayne, who grew up to become one of Batman’s greatest enemies. He seeks to ruin Bruce’s life on every level, and frequently uses other members of Batman’s rogues gallery in his elaborate schemes.
7. Harvey “Two Face” Dent
Harvey Dent was the District Attorney of Gotham City, and a close ally of Batman until a mob boss threw acidic chemicals at him during a trial, hideously scarring the left side of his face and driving him insane.
6. Amanda Waller
The mid-credits scene of “Suicide Squad” hinted that Waller knew Bruce Wayne’s secret identity as The Batman. Wayne tells Waller to shut down the Suicide Squad or he and his friends (a.k.a. the Justice League) will do it for her. She may have taken that threat seriously.
5. Carmine Falcone
Carmine Falcone was one of the truly great crime lords of Gotham, back when it was a mafia-run town. At one point in the comics, Batman invaded Falcone’s personal bedroom, assaulted him, stripped him to his underwear, and left him hogtied to his bed. Humiliated, Falcone ordered Batman killed.
4. Sal Maroni
Salvatore “The Boss” Maroni is a leader of organized crime in Gotham City and responsible for throwing acid at DA Harvey Dent and turning him into Two-Face. Just the kind of mob boss who would want Batman out of the way.
3. Red Hood
Could Jason Todd, the former Robin whose costume was seen in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” return as the Red Hood as he did in the comics — seeking revenge on Batman for allowing the Joker to live?
2. Poison Ivy
Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley, a.k.a. Poison Ivy, is one of the world’s most prominent eco-terrorists. She has a kind of obsession with Batman after she is incarcerated in Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane.
1. Rupert Thorne
Thorne is the prominent head of one of Gotham City’s top smuggling gangs. A fan favorite from “Batman: The Animated Series” who once hired Bane to take out the Batman. Deathstroke is right up Thorne’s alley as the kind of mercenary whom Thorne would hire.
Enjoy this gallery?
