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The cinematic universe of DC, under the helm of James Gunn, is set to officially begin this December with “Creature Commandos.” However, another movie has already been announced to join the lineup. According to The Hollywood Reporter, DC Studios is progressing with a film featuring top-tier DC antagonists Bane and Deathstroke, also known as Slade Wilson. The screenplay is being crafted by Matthew Orton, who is credited with writing “Captain America: Brave New World.”
Batman’s adversaries make up a significant portion of DC Comics’ most beloved characters, and they have risen from mere villains to main characters. Consider the Joker, Penguin, and Harley Quinn, who have all had their own character-centric series and films. This yet-to-be-named Bane & Deathstroke venture is the newest addition to this trend.
Bane, whose real name remains a mystery and was conceptualized by Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan, is among Batman’s most formidable foes. Brought up in a South American prison, he volunteered for a chemical experiment and became addicted to the super-steroid Venom. In the renowned “Knightfall” storyline, Bane systematically weakened Batman before physically “breaking the bat” by fracturing his spine.
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The last time this villain graced the screen was in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” where he was portrayed by Tom Hardy.
Deathstroke, known for his sword and distinctive half-orange/half-black mask, was brought to life by Marv Wolfman and George Péréz. A former Vietnam War veteran turned mercenary, Wilson possesses enhanced strength due to a “botched” super soldier experiment, making him a more malevolent version of Punisher with Captain America’s abilities.
Initially, Slade was introduced as a nemesis of the Teen Titans, specifically Dick Grayson/Nightwing, the ex-Robin. However, in recent times, he’s transitioned from battling the Bird to the Bat, likely because DC wanted to pair one of its biggest villains with its most popular hero. Joe Manganiello was slated to portray Deathstroke as the primary antagonist of “The Batman,” which was to be led and directed by Ben Affleck, but that plan fell through.
Both Bane and Deathstroke are chemically-enhanced super soldiers whose intellect matches their physical prowess. Their alliance seems natural, provided they don’t end up killing each other first.
Why Deathstroke and Bane are teaming up
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As the project has just been announced, not much has been disclosed about this Bane & Deathstroke collaboration, including its title. However, upon reflection, the project doesn’t appear as unexpected as it may initially seem.
Dave Bautista, known for his role as Drax the Destroyer in Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” series at Marvel Studios, had previously shown interest in playing Bane. In January 2023, he mentioned meeting with Gunn to discuss the possibility of playing Bane, but the director seemed to prefer a younger actor for the role. Given Gunn’s apparent grand plans for Bane, this meeting now makes more sense; he wasn’t merely indulging his friend.
As for the comic stories that this movie might draw from, one potential answer is Gail Simone’s “Secret Six.” This series centers around six supervillains: Bane, Deadshot, Catman, Rag Doll, Scandal Savage, and the banshee Jeannette. Simone’s comics are heartfelt yet filled with raunchy humor, a style that aligns with Gunn’s, making it likely that he’s a fan. If this movie features Simone’s Secret Six, maybe Deathstroke will replace Deadshot, who is more commonly associated with the Suicide Squad.
The release date for the Bane and Deathstroke film has not been finalized yet.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
