What a difference a year makes. This time last year, Warner Bros was in full swing on the marketing for Justice League. Aside from the wealth of production problems, the internet was full of rumours about the future of the DCEU. A Deathstroke movie was widely reported to be on the fast track with Joe Manganiello set to star in the titular role.

Deathstroke was also said to be the main big bad of The Batman solo movie, then Justice League hit cinemas, and if you stayed until the end, you were rewarded with a brief cameo of Joe Manganiello as Slade Wilson (aka Deathstroke). I use the term ‘rewarded’ loosely. At the time, this was a clear indication of the character being a major player going forward, but then Justice League tanked at the box office, and the DCEU paused for thought.

Back in October 2017, The Raid director Gareth Evans was in talks with Warner Bros to take on the Deathstroke movie. However, it seems as though Deathstroke isn’t happening anytime soon according to Evans. Speaking during a press event for his new film, Apostle, here’s what Evans had to say;

“Nothing really went beyond those conversations. I haven’t heard anything for a really long time,” the director noted. “To be honest, every time I see an article written I keep wanting to ask, ‘Okay, what is it you guys know that I don’t know?’ Because I haven’t heard anything for a good while yet. So I don’t know if that will ever come back full circle at some point. But I know I haven’t had any conversation about that project for a long time now.”

It could be that Warner Bros are moving ahead with a different director. That said, it does appear as though the DCEU is attempting to course correct and move in a fresh direction. Embracing more humour and focusing on making singular good movies, both Aquaman and Wonder Woman 1984 look very promising. I have no doubt that a good Deathstroke movie could be made, but at least we’ve had a fantastic incarnation of the character with Manu Bennett’s take in Arrow.