With much of the information on "Justice League" and the upcoming "Batman" standalone film kept under wraps, fans went wild when it caught wind of an update on Deathstroke's appearance in the movies.
Actor Joe Manganiello, who's confirmed to portray the villain Deathstroke in the DC Extended Universe, clarified that the Deathstroke suit that has been making rounds on the internet is not the final costume design. He explained that the footage was taken from an "armor screen test."
Another question that popped up following the leak is where the footage was taken from. Although Manganiello was initially confirmed to play Deathstroke in Ben Affleck's solo "Batman" movie, there are speculations that the actor might make his DCEU debut in "Justice League."
Meanwhile, Manganiello expressed his excitement in joining the DCEU. "Well, growing up an avid comic book fans and then - you know, there were a lot of superhero roles and supervillain roles that came my way that I said no to or wasn't allowed to do because of other commitments. It's just really exciting to think that this is the one," the actor told Entertainment Tonight (via Comicbook.com) about his new role.
Deathstroke, also known as Slade Wilson, is one of the most ruthless mercenaries in the DC Universe. He has superhuman strength and fast healing abilities. Although he had fought against Batman many times in the comics, he's also a villain to other DC superheroes such as Green Arrow.
Meanwhile, Affleck's next solo outing as the Dark Knight has been temporarily titled "The Batman." Speaking to The Wrap, Affleck, who is also on board as the film's director, said that the script is still being written.
"We're working on a script. The script is going well, I'm really excited about it," Affleck revealed.
The story for "The Batman" reportedly based on the original "Batman" series, while making reference to several unspecified comic books. Earlier theories suggested that the villain named Red Hood will make an appearance in the film. That theory has since been denied by the DCEU.
"Justice League" is confirmed for a Nov. 17, 2018 release date, while "The Batman" is expected to hit theaters on Nov. 1, 2019.