‘Deathstroke’: ‘The Raid’ Helmer Gareth Evans In Talks To Direct Solo Film

Gareth Evans, best known for directing the Indonesian martial arts films The Raid and The Raid 2, is in talks to direct a standalone Deathstroke film.

Joe Manganiello Deathstroke The Batman

The Wrap reports that Gareth Evans is in talks to write and direct a standalone Deathstroke film for Warner Bros. and DC.

Evans is best known for directing the Indonesian martial arts film The Raid and its sequel. He was originally eyed to direct Justice League Dark but ultimately passed on the project and instead impressed studio executives with his pitch for a standalone Deathstroke film. Joe Manganiello is on board to star as the supervillain.

After Manu Bennett’s performance as Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke, on The CW’s Arrow, it came as no great surprise when the character resurged in DC’s relaunch of its entire line of comics titled “New 52”. Subsequently, the character was then announced as the villain for the upcoming solo Batman film last year when Ben Affleck tweeted out a visual effects test featuring the fan-favorite character.

The original Batman script from Affleck and DC creative chief officer Geoff Johns featured Deathstroke as the main villain. However, after War for the Planet of the Apes helmer Matt Reeves replaced Affleck as the film’s director, Reeves confirmed the project would be starting over with a completely new story, making it unclear whether or not Manganiello would still star as the villain of the piece.

Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for the latest news on the future of the DC slate as we learn it.

Source: TheWrap

Michael Mistroff

Michael Mistroff

News Editor, Film/TV Reporter at Heroic Hollywood.