6 Most Likely Villains To Replace Deathstroke In Matt Reeves' THE BATMAN
It's obvious The Batman is undergoing some changes since Matt Reeves took over, hence why Joe Manganiello isn't sure if he's still in it! Here are six replacements for Deathstroke as the big bad.
The Batman has faced something of a troubled production and while Matt Reeves is signed up to direct, we don't know for sure if the movie is going to happen. Not too long ago, star Joe Manganiello revealed that he's not even sure if he's still in it, a sign perhaps that Deathstroke is being replaced by a villain Reeves would actually like to use in the movie more than the man known as The Terminator.
While there's a chance we'll see Deathstroke in The Batman and that he'll have a role of some sort (even if it's no longer as the lead villain), what if he does end up being replaced by someone?
Well, what you'll find here is a look at the six villains we believe are the most likely candidates to take over from Deathstroke in The Batman. Some could see him still incorporated while others would change the movie completely, but they all stand a chance of showing up in this movie for a variety of reasons. Don't expect to find the same old names either as we've come up with some fun ideas...
6. The Court Of Owls
The Court of Owls may not be as iconic as some of the other villains you'll find on this list, but there's no denying that they could make for a very effective group of villains in The Batman. After all, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's story introducing the clandestine group secretly in charge of Gotham City changed The Dark Knight's world in a major way and while someone like Talon isn't as well-known as Batman's other foes, he would make for a great opponent for the hero.
Lincoln March (a man who claims to be Bruce Wayne's brother) could even be thrown into the mix and that actually feels like a perfect role for Casey Affleck. Whatever direction this version of The Batman takes, The Court of Owls definitely has a lot of potential as a foil for the Caped Crusader, unlike anything we've ever seen on the big screen before now. That could be exactly what this solo movie needs to freshen Batman up too.
5. Hush
Hush is a villain that some fans love and others seem to hate, but he's not actually the main reason I want to see him on the big screen in The Batman. If you cast your minds back to the comic book storyline where he was introduced, you'll no doubt remember that he sent a variety of the Dark Knight's greatest foes after his childhood friend and while I wouldn't expect them all to show up here, there's no denying that it would be great fun to see Ben Affleck's Batman pitted against the likes of Killer Croc, Catwoman, and even Jason Todd (hell, you could even keep Deathstroke in the mix).
Outside of those cameos, Hush definitely has potential and would make this a very personal story which opens the door to flashbacks featuring Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Thomas Wayne and Lauren Cohan as his wife Martha. Hush may not be Batman's greatest foe but his presence here could help make this the iconic superhero's greatest movie!
4. Mr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze was last seen in Batman and Robin (I'm not going to include the Gotham version because, well, the show sucks) and enough time has now passed for us to see him once again take centre stage. While he could definitely be called one of the Caped Crusader's sillier foes, it would be a lot of fun seeing a contemporary take on the villain and you need only look at the Arkham video games for an idea of where this movie could take him.
By the time The Batman is released, it will have been a good seven years since he last had a solo adventure and while that's led some fans to conclude that the movie should be big in terms of storyline and scale, a personal story between Batman and Mr. Freeze could be a refreshing change of pace which both explores the darker side of Bruce Wayne's home but still provides us with the sort of story and crazy visuals we've come to love seeing in the source material over the years.
3. Two-Face
It wouldn't be the easiest task for Warner Bros. to come up with something new given the villain's history on the big screen, but providing Matt Reeves can dream up an inventive take which both borrows from the source material and gives us a fresh new story putting Two-Face up there with the likes of The Joker and Bane in terms of how iconic he is in the eyes of moviegoers, we could be on to a real winner here!
2. Calendar Man
The one thing which has been missing from pretty much each and every Batman movie over the years is the fact that Bruce Wayne also just so happens to be the World's Greatest Detective. That's why a good old-fashioned crime story has so much potential to be something special and Calendar Man fits the bill perfectly for that. He may not be one of the Dark Knight's flashier foes, but The Long Halloween is correctly acknowledged as one of the best Batman stories ever and a loose adaptation would work very nicely here.
Other heroes and villains could appear, but a back to basics approach would serve The Batman well and there would still be plenty of room for the hero to come across some familiar faces. Can you imagine him visiting The Joker in Arkham Asylum for advice? Even if that doesn't happen, Calendar Man could help make this adventure something very unique in the crowded superhero movie genre.
1. Red Hood
Now, you may be wondering why The Joker isn't listed here and this is the reason why. I understand that many of you didn't like Jared Leto's take on The Clown Prince of Crime in Suicide Squad and that you would rather not see the villain take centre stage in a Batman movie for the third time, but using Jason Todd as the lead antagonist in this release would mean The Joker could appear in flashbacks and sets the stage for him and The Dark Knight to once again cross paths in the present day somewhere down the line.
Fans have made it clear they want to see Batman take on the Red Hood on the big screen and Warner Bros. must realise that they need to get that group of moviegoers back on side after some creative decisions (the looks of both The Joker and Doomsday spring instantly to mind) which have alienated them. Deathstroke could still make a brief appearance as an aquaintance of Todd's, but the Red Hood showing up opens the door to all sorts of possibilities, including a spinoff for the former Robin.
Which of these villains would you most like to see show up in The Batman? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.
DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and...
[MORE]
ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.