Deathstroke movie in the works at Warner Brothers

Warner Brothers is already teasing another DC Entertainment adaptation. But instead of focusing attention on superheroes, this new movie would star a big bad villain, Deathstroke. Despite the recent pivot to happier, feel-good fare thanks to "Wonder Woman," and with the swashbuckling "Aquaman" movie finally wrapped, Warner Bros. looks to take a risk on a darker, fairly bloody character. The Times can confirm that "The Raid" director Gareth Evans is in talks to write and direct a "Deathstroke" feature starring former "True Blood" werewolf Joe Manganiello. Fun fact: Manganiello was already on the radar to play Deathstroke.

Fans even assumed he would appear in either "Justice League" or the standalone Batman movie, especially after Batman himself (Ben Affleck) released some footage of the character (presumably on the "Justice League" set) via Twitter. However, it looks like most of that cameo has been scrapped in favor of a solo flick. Deathstroke is a genetically engineered super soldier who goes by the name Slade Joseph Wilson when he's not moonlighting as a mercenary. The character was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez in 1980, first appearing in the comic "New Teen Titans" No. 2. A highly skilled, hyper-violent killer, Deathstroke's weapons of choice are a powerful staff that shoots energy blasts and a sword. After "Suicide Squad" proved there's money to be made in giving villains a showcase, DC Entertainment has more villain-centric movies in the works, including a Joker origin story in development with Warner Bros. But which movie will actually start production first?