Why Ben Affleck Chose Deathstroke as 'The Batman' Villain

Ben Affleck says he went on instinct when he chose Deathstroke as the villain in his upcoming film “The Batman.”

“He’s a great villain because — I just had an instinctive feeling that he would match up with him well. You know, I’m a big admirer of that character as well, especially in the New 52 the way that they did Deathstroke, and I thought that it could work,” Affleck told Collider during an interview about his new film, “The Accountant.”

Also Read: Ben Affleck's 'The Batman': 12 DC Villains Who Could Hire Deathstroke (Photos)

For non-comics fans, “The New 52” refers to a 2011 DC Comics revamp in which the company unveiled 52 new titles with fresh takes on beloved characters.

Deathstroke, who will be played in “The Batman” by “True Blood” and “Magic Mike” star Joe Manganiello, was created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. The mercenary assassin first appeared in “The New Teen Titans” issue 2, back in 1980. Wizard magazine rated him the 24th greatest villain of all time.

Batman and Deathstroke’s first encounter was in the 1991 story arc “City of Assassins,” in which Deathstroke pounded Batman to a bloody pulp.

Also Read: DC Films Universe: Top 11 Characters From the Comics We Hope to See (Photos)

Manganiello’s casting was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, and came after TheWrap confirmed that Deathstroke would be the lead villain in the Warner Bros. film, which will follow the “Justice League” film being released next year.

Ben Affleck's 'The Batman': 12 DC Villains Who Could Hire Deathstroke (Photos)

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.
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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.
DC Comics
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?
Warner Bros
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.
Warner Bros
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.
DC Comics
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.
DC Comics
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.
Warner Bros
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.
DC Comics
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.
DC Comics
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?
DC Comics
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.
DC Comics
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.
DC Animated
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Also Read: DC Films Universe: Top 11 Characters From the Comics We Hope to See (Photos)

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Deathstroke is confirmed to be the villain in new movie, but who hired the master assassin to take out Bruce Wayne?

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.

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Ben Affleck's 'The Batman': 12 DC Villains Who Could Hire Deathstroke (Photos)

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