Last week, Bret Easton Ellis provided the quote that went ’round the world, in which he shared an anecdote about Ben Affleck‘s “The Batman” possibly having script problems (the author and podcaster has since issued a statement clarifying his remarks; see below). But if anything, it confirmed that before a release date has been set or production started, there is a lot riding on Affleck’s solo outing, the first for the character since Christopher Nolan‘s “The Dark Knight Rises.” And particularly with DC Films struggling to compete in terms of quality with Marvel, there’s an extra layer of expectation on the movie. However, Joe Manganiello, slated to play Deathstroke in the film, is feeling pretty good about what he’s heard from Affleck about the movie.
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“When I met Ben we sat down and we talked about, you know, the role,” Manganiello told Mark Madden. “We talked about the movie. His take is a fresh take but I think the audience is going to be surprised. Because it’s a road that no one’s really gone down that’s completely integral to, you know, who Batman is. And I think it’s gonna be refreshing but at the same time completely familiar. But it’s going to take this franchise in a direction that I think A LOT of people are going to be really happy about. It’s going to be gritty and action packed and cerebral and all of those elements that people love about Batman.”
That’s certainly some undeniable enthusiasm, but it’s still a big road ahead for the movie, and the last thing anybody needs are opinions swinging too far one way or the other before casting has been finalized, a budget confirmed, and a frame shot. [via ComingSoon]