More than two years have passed since we learned DC Studios was developing a Deathstroke and Bane team-up movie from a script by Matthew Orton, one of the writers behind Captain America: Brave New World and Moon Knight.
For fans of the iconic Batman villains, the news certainly piqued their interest. Very little has been revealed since, though fans keep asking why James Gunn and Peter Safran seem to be prioritising two villains over the long-overdue solo outings for the Dark Knight and Wonder Woman.
What we do know is that Peacemaker Season 2 director Greg Mottola is reportedly the frontrunner to helm Deathstroke and Bane, which has the working title of Savage Hunters.
The prospect of Slade Wilson teaming up with Bane to battle Batman is hugely exciting, but that doesn't appear to be the plan for this movie. As of now, the DCU's Bruce Wayne has not been cast, and The Brave and the Bold remains undated, despite being announced at the start of 2023.
According to @AtlantaDCFans, the plan is for Savage Hunters to give Deathstroke and Bane a mentor/mentee dynamic. Slade will be in his 40s, with a much younger Bane portrayed as being in his 20s.
This isn't too much of a shock, as Deathstroke is typically on the older side, but is it really necessary to have him potentially training the formidable villain we know will one day "Break the Bat" (in the comics, at least)? On paper, this sounds like a cross between Lanterns and a zany James Gunn-style buddy comedy, making it an...intriguing...addition to the DCU slate.
Very much like Sony's Marvel Universe—which didn't have a Spider-Man—it seems DC Studios is prioritising Batman's villains in movies without Bruce Wayne in them.
For what it's worth, the trades have reported that The Brave and the Bold, Savage Hunters, Teen Titans, Swamp Thing, and Wonder Woman are all in early development and have yet to be greenlit. As of now, there's no word on what movies will follow Man of Tomorrow, as DC Studios currently has nothing scheduled for 2028 and beyond.
Bane was born in the fictional Caribbean prison of Peña Duro, where he was forced to serve a life sentence from birth. Using a drug called Venom to enhance his physical power, his most iconic feat came when he "broke the Bat."
Deathstroke, a.k.a. Slade Wilson, is a highly skilled mercenary and assassin who gained enhanced strength, agility, and intelligence through a government experiment. Known for his tactical genius and expert combat skills, he's targeted many heroes over the years, including Batman and the Teen Titans.
Stay tuned for updates on Savage Hunters as we have them.