Fans of comic books would assert that the only thing linking Bane and Deathstroke is their status as villains within the DC Universe. However, these two notorious characters are set to make their cinematic debut together.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios is in the early stages of creating a film centered around Bane and Deathstroke, with Matthew Orton, known for his work on the reshoots of Captain America: Brave New World, confirmed as the screenplay writer.
Bane is a well-known adversary of Batman, first appearing in a minor role in the 1997 film Batman and Robin. His character was given a more significant portrayal in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, where Tom Hardy played him. On the other hand, Deathstroke has had only a fleeting appearance in a film; Joe Manganiello portrayed Slade Wilson in Justice League. Reports suggest that he was intended to be the antagonist in an earlier draft of Ben Affleck’s The Batman, sparking discussions about a standalone film for his character.
A collaboration between these two appears unlikely given their opposing motivations: Deathstroke operates as a mercenary while Bane is an ambitious strategist. Unless superheroes are incorporated into this narrative, the most probable scenario is a conflict between the two, potentially presenting one as the antihero.
Currently, there is no director attached to this Bane and Deathstroke project, and it will not be part of Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, which includes the ongoing The Penguin series on HBO and Max. If the film moves forward, it may still be several years before it reaches audiences.